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Apple Developing Custom Chips for Smart Glasses, AI Servers, and Next-Gen Macs

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Apple is advancing its hardware ambitions with the development of specialized chips designed to power future products, including its first smart glasses, AI servers, and next-generation MacBooks, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

The tech giant’s reported progress on a low-power chip for smart glasses signals its intent to directly compete with Meta’s popular Ray-Ban smart glasses, a category that’s becoming increasingly central in the race toward consumer wearables integrated with AI.

The glasses-specific chip is said to be based on Apple Watch silicon, emphasizing power efficiency and compact form factors. It has been tailored to support multiple cameras — a key feature for augmented reality (AR) and immersive use cases — and could enter mass production as early as late 2026 or 2027, with TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) slated as the manufacturing partner.

Beyond Smart Glasses:
Apple is also reportedly working on AI-optimized server chips to support the Apple Intelligence platform — the company’s suite of on-device AI features introduced for iPhones. These capabilities include notification summaries, email rewriting, and integration with OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

The server chips would provide the infrastructure needed to process more complex AI workloads, marking a notable shift for Apple as it begins to build its own AI compute backbone, rather than relying entirely on third-party providers.

MacBook Chip Roadmap Expands:
In addition, Apple is said to be developing new Mac chips, expected to be named the M6 and M7, extending its in-house silicon strategy. Apple’s custom chips have already proven transformative in differentiating its Mac lineup, offering significant performance gains over Intel-based predecessors.

Earlier this year, Apple also unveiled its first custom modem chip for iPhones, reinforcing its long-term commitment to vertical integration — from semiconductors to software.

While Apple has not publicly commented on the report, its steady push into AR, AI, and custom hardware signals the company is not merely following trends — but aiming to shape them.

Apple to Introduce Satellite Communications and Blood Pressure Monitoring to Apple Watch

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Apple is reportedly planning to integrate satellite communication capabilities into its Apple Watch by 2025, as well as introducing a blood-pressure monitoring feature, according to a Bloomberg News report on Tuesday.

The satellite communication feature is expected to debut in the 2025 iteration of the Apple Watch Ultra. This capability will allow users to send messages without relying on cellular or internet connections, leveraging Apple’s ongoing advancements in satellite technology. Apple initially brought satellite connectivity to its iPhones in 2022 and recently invested $1.5 billion into satellite provider Globalstar to enhance these services further.

HEALTH-FOCUSED INNOVATIONS

In addition to satellite communication, Apple is reportedly ramping up development on a blood-pressure monitoring feature for its smartwatch. This medical functionality is also anticipated to launch in 2025. Apple has been steadily expanding the health-related capabilities of its devices, aiming to provide users with tools for long-term health tracking and emergency response.

In September, Apple introduced a new smartwatch model that can detect conditions such as sleep apnea and alert users to emergencies. These developments align with the company’s broader push to make its devices integral to users’ health and wellness routines.

MARKET IMPACT AND OUTLOOK

Apple’s latest innovations underscore its strategy to blend advanced technology with health-focused features, aiming to further entrench its ecosystem in consumers’ daily lives. Satellite connectivity on the Apple Watch would enhance its utility in areas with limited cellular coverage, appealing to outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers.

While the company did not immediately respond to requests for comment, these anticipated features are expected to position Apple strongly in the wearable tech and health device markets, reinforcing its leadership in both sectors.

Revolutionary Biosensor in Seatbelts Monitors Driver Stress and Health Conditions

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A new breakthrough in biosensor technology could revolutionize how we monitor driver and pilot health, particularly focusing on stress and alertness levels. Developed by researchers at the National University of Singapore and Tsinghua University, this innovative device is seamlessly integrated into seatbelts and tracks vital signs such as heartbeat and respiration without direct skin contact. Detailed in the journal Nature Electronics, this biosensor promises to improve safety in vehicles and aircraft by enabling real-time monitoring of cardiopulmonary data, even in dynamic and challenging environments.

The key to the success of this non-contact biosensor lies in its use of advanced metamaterials. These engineered materials are designed to optimize the transmission of signals, allowing the device to gather physiological data efficiently. Conductive threads are embroidered into the seatbelt in a comb-shaped pattern, which allows radio waves to interact with the user’s body. According to Xi Tian, co-author of the study, this design minimizes interference from vibrations caused by vehicle movements, ensuring that the sensor remains sensitive to subtle physiological signals. The integration of a processing system further ensures that the data collected is consistent and reliable, even when the user is in motion.

In real-world testing, the biosensor demonstrated its reliability across multiple environments. In trials conducted in both a car and an airline cabin simulator, the device proved capable of adapting to the user’s body shape while consistently detecting physiological signals. During a 1.5-hour vehicle journey in Singapore, the biosensor was able to monitor heart rate variations, while in an aircraft setting, it successfully detected sleep-wake cycles, providing valuable insights into a user’s health and stress levels. These promising results highlight the potential of this technology for health monitoring, regardless of the environment.

The introduction of this biosensor could greatly enhance safety by allowing for continuous health tracking in vehicles and aircraft, providing crucial data to alert drivers or pilots to fatigue or stress before they become a hazard. As the technology evolves, it could lead to broader applications in transportation, improving overall safety standards and offering more personalized and proactive health monitoring for those operating high-stakes machinery.