A new wave of AI-powered wearables is hitting the market, promising to integrate artificial intelligence into our daily routines like never before. These devices range from $49 productivity companions to $199 handheld assistants, with major players like Amazon already making strategic acquisitions in the space.
The AI wearables market is exploding with options that promise to make artificial intelligence as wearable as your watch. From conversation-recording pendants to emotional support companions, these devices are betting that consumers want AI integrated directly into their daily lives.
Bee leads the affordable end at $49.99, offering a simple pendant that clips to clothing or wears like a fitness band. The device records everything it hears, learning your routines to create personalized reminders and notes. What sets Bee apart is its privacy-conscious mute button and the backing of Amazon, which acquired the startup in July for an undisclosed sum. The companion iOS app requires a $19 monthly subscription for full functionality.
At the premium end, Friend has generated significant buzz as a $129 emotional support companion. The white pendant recognizes tone and mood, responding like a digital friend through Bluetooth connectivity. However, the device has faced criticism, with NYC subway ads vandalized with "surveillance capitalism" messages, highlighting growing privacy concerns in the AI wearables space.
For professionals, Limitless (formerly Rewind) offers a $99 conversation-recording solution ideal for journalists and business professionals. The A16z-backed company focuses on transcribing meetings and calls into searchable knowledge, with 10 hours of monthly AI features included and unlimited access for $29 monthly.
Omi takes a unique approach at $89, integrating with OpenAI's ChatGPT to provide personalized advice based on conversation context. The device can be worn as a necklace or attached to the head with medical tape, detecting when you're speaking directly to it.
Plaud's NotePin targets professionals at $159, offering built-in AI transcription for lawyers, journalists, and students. The magnetic wearable includes 300 free monthly transcription minutes, with a $8.33 Pro plan expanding to 1,200 minutes. Plaud is already preparing its next iteration - the $179 Note Pro, available for preorder.
