Integrated artificial intelligence (AI) in a pendant or brooch is making a strong comeback. This is despite previous, high-profile failures. Microphones and cameras are permanently active. These devices complement the range of smart rings, watches and glasses. Together they are intended to usher in the post-smartphone era, which is a little more screen-free.
The return of these smart objects was confirmed at CES in Las Vegas, the world’s leading technology trade fair. This comes less than two years after the disastrous failure of a pioneer, Humane’s AI brooch.
Lenovo, the number one in personal computers, unveiled a prototype trailer from its Motorola subsidiary on Tuesday. The device is designed to control the AI assistant Qira by voice. There is no need to touch or look at a screen. The pendant is worn on the chest and captures sounds and images from the environment, leaving your hands free.
Will this remarkable announcement once again meet with social resistance? The same goes for the ubiquitous prototypes of smart glasses at the trade fair that film, listen and respond to voice commands. “Find real friends!” and “surveillance capitalism” was written on graffiti this fall. These covered up the massive advertising campaign for Friend, an AI supporter, in the New York subway.
The industry seems optimistic. This is due to technological advances in areas where the pioneers failed: bugs, overheating and poor battery life. Voice-controlled AI has made a huge leap in fluidity over the last two years. She can now have almost natural conversations. At the same time, the chips can process data directly on the device without relying on a connection.
Beyond startups, other large companies besides Lenovo have also picked up the trend. Amazon acquired the start-up Bee last summer. Meta bought the specialist Limitless in December. Meta is also continually expanding the AI assistance functions of its market-leading smart glasses.
In the background, OpenAI’s plan to bring its own smart device onto the market by 2027 is known. It will be based on ChatGPT, the world’s most used AI assistant.
Less screen
However, every company takes different approaches. Bee’s case can be worn on the wrist, belt or lapel. It mainly functions as a productivity assistant for notes, reminders and appointments. The start-up Vocci focuses on AI-supported notes and has decided on a ring. Plaud is aimed at professional use in meetings. Your device is a rectangular case that is barely thicker than a credit card.
Others, like Chinese startup iBuddi, came to Las Vegas to unveil a prototype companion medallion. Their goal is to counteract ‘screen fatigue’. “Our philosophy is to create a wearable AI companion that replaces some of the phone interactions. We don’t want to add another screen that draws attention,” Yin Haitian, founder of iBuddi, told AFP.
The entrepreneur is aiming for a July launch and assures: “iBuddi is not designed for surveillance. It reacts to important moments instead of continuously recording everything.” The Looki L1, on the other hand, continuously captures the wearer’s perspective. He promises to give advice like avoiding a third coffee. He also comments on places or objects in the area and summarizes the day in a comic.
“Consumer privacy expectations have not disappeared, but they are changing,” notes analyst Avi Greengart from Techsponential. He adds: “We are already being monitored by billions of smartphones, urban camera networks and smart devices that we have voluntarily allowed into our homes.”
Will these devices herald the demise of the smartphone? For Haitian, the main barrier to their adoption is “neither battery nor privacy.” Rather, it is the lack of a “decisive change in behavior” so far. “These wearables won’t replace your smartphone any time soon. A 15 cm glass touchscreen is just too useful,” says Greengart. Instead, he predicts a long phase of coexistence.
And if the ubiquity of microphones worries you, another Las Vegas startup has a solution. It sells Wearphone, a thick black mask the size of a surgical mask. It promises to maintain the confidentiality of your conversations, whether you’re talking to a phone partner or your AI assistant.
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