Meta launches "AI Necklace" testing, aiming to ship tens of millions of wearable devices in the second half of the year

Meta Wearable Device Vice President Alex Himel disclosed in an internal memo that Meta plans to test an AI pendant device within the next year, integrating the Limitless technology (formerly Rewind, a $99 conversation recording and transcription pendant) acquired at the end of 2025. Meta aims to ship 10 million wearable devices in the second half of 2026, simultaneously launching "Wearables for Work" enterprise services and the Malibu 2 smartwatch project.
(Background: A sneak peek at Meta’s next-generation Ray-Ban smart glasses: supporting facial recognition, built-in AI assistants… launching in 2026)
(Additional context: The era of AI wearable devices is here! An overview of the major tech giants Google, OpenAI, Microsoft, Meta, and Apple’s strategies)

Key Highlights

• Meta plans to test an AI pendant device within a year, integrating the Limitless ($99 conversation recording pendant) technology acquired in December 2025
• Target to ship 10 million wearable devices in the second half of 2026, launching Malibu 2 smartwatch and enterprise Wearables for Work
• Reality Labs has accumulated losses of over $70 billion, shifting budget focus from VR headsets to smart glasses and wearable AI

Last year, Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses sold 7 million units, three times the combined sales of 2023 and 2024. But Zuckerberg apparently feels glasses alone are not enough; Meta’s wearable AI ambitions are extending from faces to necks.

On May 29, The Information reported, citing an internal memo from Meta’s Wearable Devices Vice President Alex Himel, that Meta plans to initiate internal testing of an AI pendant device within the next year. The device is positioned as an "always-on" personal AI assistant, focusing on meeting recordings, dialogue transcription, and real-time summaries, serving as the core hardware for the "Wearables for Work" enterprise wearable service.

This is not a speculative concept; Meta already purchased a ready-made product last December.

On December 5, 2025, Meta acquired the AI wearable startup Limitless (formerly Rewind), whose flagship product is a $99 pendant device capable of recording face-to-face conversations, automatically transcribing, and generating summaries. Founder Dan Siroker (former CEO of Optimizely) joined Meta’s team after the acquisition. Limitless immediately ceased external sales, and the Rewind app was officially taken down on December 19.

Malibu 2 smartwatch reboot, aiming to ship 10 million units

Himel’s memo revealed more than just the pendant. Meta also rebooted the smartwatch project, which was shelved in 2022 due to cost-cutting, with the internal code name "Malibu 2." It features bio-health monitoring and a built-in Meta AI assistant, positioned as a complementary device to Ray-Ban glasses.

The overall goal is clear: ship 10 million wearable devices in the second half of 2026. The new prescription lenses for Ray-Ban Meta, Blayzer and Scriber, launched on April 14, start at $499; lens manufacturing partner EssilorLuxottica aims to double production to 20 million units by the end of the year. Meta is currently readjusting Reality Labs’ hardware roadmap to prevent market confusion caused by multiple device launches.

Meta is transforming from a "smart glasses company" into a "wearable AI platform."

The Battle for Wearable AI

Meta has also paid significant tuition fees; since late 2020, Reality Labs has accumulated losses exceeding $70 billion, with a $4.03 billion loss and only $402 million in revenue in the first quarter of 2026. Last year, it laid off about 1,500 people (10% of the department), closed four internal game studios, and shifted its budget focus significantly from VR headsets to smart glasses and wearable devices.

Meta is not the only major company betting on wearable AI. OpenAI is collaborating with former Apple design chief Jony Ive to develop AI glasses and smart speakers, manufactured by iPhone OEM Pegatron, targeting a 2026 launch.

Apple is reportedly developing an AI wearable device about the size of an AirTag, equipped with microphones, speakers, and a camera, expected to launch in 2027. It appears that the two giants’ strategies are converging.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Meta AI pendant device?

Meta’s planned wearable AI device, integrating the acquired Limitless technology, can record audio, transcribe conversations, and automatically generate summaries. It is positioned as an "always-on" office AI assistant, with a price point expected to be around the original $99 of Limitless.

What is Meta’s sales target for wearable devices in 2026?

Meta aims to ship 10 million wearable devices in the second half of 2026. Ray-Ban Meta glasses sold 7 million units in 2025, and lens partner EssilorLuxottica’s production goal is to double to 20 million units in 2026.

This article is based on a report from The Information, compiled and translated by Dongqu Dongqu.