AI Gadgets: A Pin, a Rabbit, and Steve Jobs-Style Glasses

Ai Pin by Humane Inc.

The Ai Pin is a $700 gadget resembling a “pin,” designed and developed by Humane Inc. It was first unveiled at a TED event in May 2023 and went on sale in April 2024.

The Ai Pin attaches using a magnet: the pointed part of the device (the pin) pierces the clothing, and a magnet that comes with the gadget secures it in place. This device lacks a screen, but it can project images onto the user’s palm using a laser. It is voice-controlled. 

Ai Pin by Humane Inc. Source: humane.com

The device's creators assert it could eventually replace smartphones.

Ai Pin gives you a team of Ai digital assistants on call, all of the time. Your Researcher, Interpreter, Photographer, Communicator, and DJ step in to help with questions and everyday tasks, freeing up your hands and your mind. Soon, assistants like a Nutritionist, Shopper, Navigator, and more will join your team, making your work and life feel even easier,

the developers explain.

The company is actively working on enhancing the battery life, managing the temperature regime, and improving the accuracy and response time of the device. 

AI startup Humane Inc. was founded by designer Imran Chaudhri and his wife Bethany Bongiorno, both former Apple employees. Chaudhri is credited with inventing several Apple patents, including the touchscreen, and is known for his work on the design of products like the Mac, iPod, iPhone, iPad, and others.

By early 2024, the startup had raised $230 million for its AI Pin. Partnerships with Humane Inc. have been announced by Microsoft and OpenAI, with additional investments from companies like LG, Volvo, and the American cloud software company Salesforce.

Time magazine included the Ai Pin in its “Top 200 Best Inventions of 2023” list. By the end of that year, the startup was valued at approximately $850 million. 

Follow the White Rabbit 

The Rabbit r1 The Rabbit r1, priced at $199, is dubbed a “pocket AI assistant” by its creators at Rabbit Inc. and the renowned Swedish company Teenage Engineering, famous for their OP-1 synthesizers.

This device operates on its unique Rabbit OS and boasts an innovative artificial intelligence known as the Large Action Model (LAM). The LAM is capable of managing tasks such as playing music, conducting internet searches, sending emails, ordering taxis, booking accommodations, and facilitating online shopping. All these functions are integrated into a single interface, allowing users to simply voice commands to the “rabbit” for various services.

Rabbit r1 by Rabbit Inc. Source: rabbit.tech

In its training phase, the LAM was familiarized with how various mobile apps like Uber, Airbnb, and Spotify work—learning their settings, search functionalities, and booking processes. Those interested in further customizing their Rabbit r1 can do so themselves, thanks to a specially designed mode for upgrades. 

Jesse Lyu, the driving force behind Rabbit Inc., hails from China. Liu had previously sold his first AI startup, Raven Tech, to Chinese tech giant Baidu. A collector of synthesizers, Liu's hobby introduced him to the founder of Teenage Engineering. His initial showcase of the “rabbit” on X was a hit, amassing nearly $10 million in pre-orders within just five days of its video release.

People are interested because they’re getting tired of the smartphone and app ecosystem, which is now 15 years old and very cumbersome for both developers and users,

explains Jesse Lyu.

The Evolution of the AI Monocle

Singapore-based tech company Brilliant Labs originally introduced the Monocle, an augmented reality (AR) lens that could attach to traditional glasses. However, in a surprising pivot in 2024, Brilliant Labs launched Frame—a pair of $349 glasses equipped with artificial intelligence and open-source software. 

The design of Frame recalls the iconic glasses worn by Steve Jobs, perhaps a nod to Brilliant Labs founder Bobak Tavangar's tenure at Apple. Unlike ordinary prescription glasses, Frame uses AI to enhance everyday human capabilities significantly.

We think that this thing should be about more than whales flying through the sky or a T-rex dancing on your tabletop. It should be about bringing AI in front of the eye to elevate context and make you a bit of a superhuman,

explains Bobak Tavangar about the concept behind Frame.

Frame by Brilliant Labs Source: brilliant.xyz

Frame analyzes its surroundings using AI models from OpenAI. It utilizes the Whisper model for voice recognition and transcription, enabling users to translate what they see or hear. Internet searches are conducted using the neural network Perplexity. Furthermore, the Noa app integrates these AI models, allowing users to control the device through voice or touch commands, streamlining interaction and enhancing functionality. 

Bobak Tavangar once recounted an incident where his young daughter accidentally burned herself while helping in the kitchen. He painted a picture of a common scenario: holding a crying child with one arm while frantically searching for burn treatment information with the other. With Frame, the situation is managed differently: simply by using a voice command, the Noa app collects visual information, assesses the severity of the burn, and recommends whether immediate first aid is necessary or if an urgent doctor's visit is required. All this can be done while continuing to comfort and hold your child—a truly invaluable ability for any loving parent.

It's worth noting that the quest for a groundbreaking type of pocket electronic device, one that could rival the popularity of smartphones, has been ongoing for over a decade. Accurately evaluating the impact of predecessors like AI Pin or Rabbit r1 is complex. For instance, the Apple Watch remains a popular gadget, but it is often viewed merely as a nice complement to the iPhone. Meanwhile, devices like Google Glass or Microsoft’s HoloLens, according to some analysts, didn't quite make the intended impact. 

Currently, we are only seeing the early attempts to leverage artificial intelligence through wearable gadgets. Thus, it's too soon to say whether any specific AI-enabled technological innovation will become a “must-have” for contemporary individuals.
Previously, The Coinomist reported that luxury industry giant Swarovski had launched an AI-powered binocular, likely to interest ornithologists and entomologists.