A new wave of AI-powered gadgets is hitting the market, aiming to seamlessly integrate artificial intelligence into our daily lives. These innovative AI wearables—ranging from necklaces, rings, and wristbands to portable devices—serve various purposes. Some function as productivity tools, while others are designed as friendly companions that listen to your everyday thoughts. Even OpenAI is reportedly developing its own compact AI companion device.
Below, we've rounded up some of the most notable AI wearables and gadgets currently available.
Bee
Bee is an affordable pendant, priced at $49.99, that can be clipped to clothing or worn like a fitness band. This device records everything it hears, learning your routines and preferences to create personalized reminders and notes. For privacy, it also features a convenient mute button.
The companion app, currently exclusive to iOS, requires a $19 monthly subscription. Through the app, users can interact directly with Bee, ask questions, and receive key daily takeaways along with chronological transcripts of their conversations.
Notably, Amazon recently acquired the wearables startup in July.
Friend
Friend stands out as one of the most talked-about entrants in the "personal AI" device market. This $129 white pendant is designed to be worn around your neck, functioning as an emotional support companion.
It recognizes your tone and mood, allowing for natural conversations as if speaking to a friend. Connecting to your phone via Bluetooth, Friend constantly listens, ready to respond or send proactive messages, such as wishing you good luck before an interview.
However, Friend has also faced criticism, including a recent backlash against its subway ad campaign in NYC, where ads were vandalized with messages like "surveillance capitalism."
Limitless
Formerly known as Rewind, Limitless is another conversation-recording pendant, priced at $99.
This device continuously listens, transcribing meetings, calls, and conversations (with consent) into searchable and summarized knowledge. It's an ideal tool for professionals, especially journalists, who need to recall important discussions with ease.
The companion app includes 10 hours of AI features per month, such as transcription and summaries. Users can unlock unlimited features for a $29 monthly subscription.
Omi
Priced at $89, Omi is a versatile device capable of answering questions, summarizing conversations, creating to-do lists, and helping schedule meetings. Omi constantly listens and processes your conversations through ChatGPT, allowing it to remember personal context and offer tailored advice.
While Omi can be worn as a necklace, a unique feature allows it to be attached to the side of your head with medical tape, enabling it to detect when you are speaking to it.
Plaud's NotePin
At $159, Plaud's NotePin is one of the pricier options on this list, but its built-in AI transcription and summarization features make it a valuable tool for lawyers, journalists, and students attending meetings or lectures.
This tiny wearable voice recorder can be worn on your wrist or magnetically attached to your clothing. Recordings are saved in real-time on your phone, eliminating the need for manual note-taking. The device includes 300 free monthly transcription minutes, with an option to upgrade to 1,200 minutes with the $8.33 per month Pro plan.
This year, the company is also gearing up to launch a $179 ultra-thin note-taking device called the Plaud Note Pro, which is now available for preorder.
Rabbit R1
Rabbit R1 is another AI gadget that has quickly captured the tech world's interest. This small, retro-styled handheld device features a touchscreen and a rotating camera, priced at $199.
Despite facing some initial challenges during its launch, the Rabbit R1 is designed to be a phone-adjacent device. It allows users to perform tasks like booking flights, ordering meals, and controlling apps without needing to pull out their phone each time. Following a crucial software update that rectified previous performance issues, the Rabbit R1 now boasts expanded AI features, including "Creations," which allows users to build their own tools and even games.
