Daily briefing
September 27, 2026
2 stories · about 2 minutes
Apple weighs four new Vision Pro designs, Apple Glass targeted for 2027
Bloomberg reports Apple is testing four different designs for a revamped Vision Pro, including one with an external compute puck like Meta's, while its long-rumored Apple Glass smart glasses target a 2027 debut.
- Apple is reportedly testing four different design concepts for a revamped Vision Pro, codenamed N224, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports.
- One concept offloads compute and battery to an external puck, similar to Meta's new VR Glasses; some Apple executives reportedly prefer an all-in-one design instead.
- The N224 project is reportedly on "life support" with no guaranteed launch, and could arrive as late as 2028 or 2029 if it ships.
- Apple's long-rumored Apple Glass smart glasses are still targeted for a late 2027 debut, without a display in their first version.
Why it matters: Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports Apple is testing four different design concepts for a revamped Vision Pro, codenamed N224, including one that offloads compute to an external puck like Meta's new VR Glasses. Some Apple executives reportedly prefer an all-in-one design instead. The project is on "life support" with no guaranteed launch, and could ship as late as 2028 or 2029. Apple's separate Apple Glass smart glasses still target a late 2027 debut, without a display at first.
Read the full story →Pat Gelsinger-backed PicoJool raises $27.5M for AI data center lasers
PicoJool's Series A, led by Socratic Partners, funds a laser-based alternative to copper wiring meant to solve a growing bandwidth and energy bottleneck in AI data centers.
- PicoJool raised a $27.5 million Series A led by Socratic Partners, with Hudson River Trading also participating, bringing its total funding to $39.5 million.
- The startup, seeded by former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger's Playground Global, makes VCSEL lasers that move data with light instead of copper wire.
- PicoJool's technology reaches 200G per lane and offers a path to 3.2 terabits per second of bandwidth for AI clusters.
- It enters a market where rivals dwarf its funding: Ayar Labs raised $650 million in 2026 alone, and Marvell bought Celestial AI for $3.25 billion.
Why it matters: PicoJool raised a $27.5 million Series A led by Socratic Partners, with Hudson River Trading also investing, bringing its total funding to $39.5 million. The startup, backed by former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger, makes VCSEL lasers that move data with light instead of copper wire, reaching 200G per lane. AI clusters generate more data than copper wiring can handle without high energy costs. PicoJool will use the funding to expand in the U.S. and Taiwan and qualify products with customers.
Read the full story →