Technologies

Apple’s AI Smart Glasses to Arrive in 2026, According to Report

The iPhone and Vision Pro maker is playing catchup with Meta and Google.

Apple’s take on smart glasses could arrive next year, according to a report from Bloomberg on Thursday. While the description of the specs sound a lot like what Meta and Google are doing in that area, Apple has a reputation for fashion-forward and iconic products that could help set it apart as it plays catchup.

The glasses are expected to ship late in 2026 with cameras, microphones and speakers, as well as multimodal AI that could respond to requests via Siri and that can «see» and analyze the environment of the wearer, Bloomberg reported.

The report comes just two days after Google’s I/O conference, where the company revealed more details about its Android XR platform, alongside partners including Warby Parker, for creating smart glasses offerings.

The smart glasses from Apple would be distinct from the company’s Vision Pro VR headset, a well-reviewed but bulky and expensive product that has failed to catch on with consumers.

The Bloomberg report also said that Apple is scrapping plans to put a camera in its Apple Watch devices.

Apple did not immediately respond to CNET’s request for comment.

Will Apple’s smart glasses just be more of the same?

According to the report, Apple’s smart glasses will ship with cameras, microphones and speakers, all of which are necessary for the rumored AI feature expected to come from them. The wearer will be able to perform several actions you can do on a smartphone today, like controlling music playback and asking Siri questions.

However, the AI smarts will kick it up by being able to see what the user does, not unlike Google’s Gemini Live camera mode and what can be currently available with Meta’s Ray-Ban Glasses. But as with the AI-Powered Siri we’re still patiently waiting for, Apple’s smart glasses could be something special if the device pans out.

Apple plans to begin producing prototypes by the end of the year, according to unnamed people close to the matter cited by Bloomberg. The hands-free device is also expected to ship with a dedicated chip Apple has designed specifically for the product.

Apple’s aiming for augmented reality above all else

Apparently this particular pair of glasses isn’t Apple’s true ambition. The report says that Apple’s ultimate goal is to create a pair of augmented reality glasses and this product is but a milestone towards that. While augmented reality has been around for some time now, a proper implementation in smart glasses is something we’ve yet to see, but we know it’s coming.

This is far from the first time we’ve heard of Apple looking into creating AR glasses or a product to go head to head with Meta’s Ray-Bans. Apple doesn’t typically have a problem with being late to market with its products, so it’s fair to assume it’s not rushing on what could be a solid product segment for it.

For more, don’t miss CNET’s coverage on how Android XR and Apple will be key to normalizing smart glasses.

Technologies

Tinder Users Must Start Logging In With Their Faces, Starting Nationwide

The social app now has new US requirements including face identification to help quell longstanding problems with catfishing and more.

US Tinder users will find a new feature when they open up the dating app starting Wednesday: A mandatory Face Check on their phones will be required before they can log into their profiles.

The Face Check step will begin with a new request to record a video of your face, a more casual version of setting up Apple’s Face ID login. Tinder will then run checks comparing your face data to your current profile pics and automatically create a small face badge for your profile. We already know how it works, because Tinder has already launched the feature in Canada and California before the full US rollout.

The technology, powered by FaceTec, will keep biometric data of the user’s face in encrypted form but discard the scanning video for privacy. Tinder will be able to use the face data to detect duplicate accounts, in an effort to cut down on fake profiles and identity theft.

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.

Tinder’s facial recognition rollout is also made to prevent catfishing, or people pretending to be someone else on Tinder to scam or blackmail them. But that also points to a deeper problem on the rise in dating apps — a growing number of bots, many controlled by AI, are designed to glean personal information or fool users into scammy subscriptions, among other problems.

Tinder’s working against these bots on several fronts, including this Face Check push as well as ID Check, which requires a government-issued ID and other types of photo verification.

The dating app also recently released a feature in June to enable double-dating with your friends, which Tinder reports is especially popular with Gen Z users. If you’re worried about the latest hazards on Tinder, we have guide to safety practices.

A representative for Tinder did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Thursday, Oct. 23

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Oct. 23.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Like some weather, memories and I.P.A.s
Answer: HAZY

5A clue: Statement that’s self-evidently true
Answer: AXIOM

7A clue: Civic automaker
Answer: HONDA

8A clue: What fear leads to, as Yoda told a young Anakin
Answer: ANGER

9A clue: Foxlike
Answer: SLY

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Verbal «lol»
Answer: HAHA

2D clue: Brain signal transmitter
Answer: AXON

3D clue: Hits with a witty comeback
Answer: ZINGS

4D clue: Sing at the top of a mountain, maybe
Answer: YODEL

6D clue: Name of the famous «Queen of Scots»
Answer: MARY

Technologies

Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for Oct. 23 #599

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for Oct. 23, No. 599.

Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Today’s NYT Strands puzzle might be Halloween-themed, as the answers are all rather dangerous. Some of them are a bit tough to unscramble, so if you need hints and answers, read on.

I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far

Hint for today’s Strands puzzle

Today’s Strands theme is: Please don’t eat me!

If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Remember Mr. Yuk?

Clue words to unlock in-game hints

Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:

POND, NOON, NODE, BALE, SOCK, LOVE, LOCK, MOCK, LEER, REEL, GLOVE, DAIS, LEAN, LEAD, REEL

Answers for today’s Strands puzzle

These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers: