The nascent market for standalone artificial intelligence hardware is already littered with high-profile wreckage. Humane’s Ai Pin, a device that promised to liberate users from their screens, was met with scorching reviews for its poor performance and fundamental usability flaws. The Rabbit R1, another hopeful, quickly faced scrutiny over its software and long-term viability. For many in Silicon Valley, these early failures have served as a cautionary tale, suggesting the world is not yet ready—and the technology not yet mature—for a post-smartphone, ambient computing future.
Yet in the meticulously planned, long-range corridors of Cupertino, a different conclusion is being drawn. Apple Inc. is reportedly exploring its own entry into the category,…