By Alex Gill
If you're anything like me, you get excited every January for CES in Las Vegas. The Consumer Electronics Show kicks off the year with a parade of innovative products and exciting announcements, usually focused on physical devices or hardware technology. Sometimes, it brings fads, like 3D TVs or VR glasses (jury’s still out on those). But other times, it highlights real industry trends with companies showing off high-end gadgets and tech, giving us a glimpse into the future.
Remember when curved screens were science fiction? When they were shown off at CES 2015, I was blown away. Now, we have folding phones on the market. It's incredible how quickly tech evolves. Just a few years ago, multi-touch technology was new, and now we can’t imagine using a device without pinch-to-zoom. That’s the magic of CES—each year, it gives us a taste of what’s to come.
This year, like the last few, the buzzword was AI. Every company is racing to incorporate artificial intelligence into their products. Meta, for instance, is working on AI-powered sunglasses, while giants like Samsung and Apple are adding AI to their latest phones. But what’s especially interesting is how newer, smaller companies are experimenting with AI to create entirely new kinds of devices.
The Rabbit R1: Hype vs. Reality
One of the most talked-about devices at CES this year was the Rabbit R1. A relatively unknown company managed to grab the spotlight with a sleek, AI-driven gadget, introduced in a presentation that earned comparisons to Steve Jobs’ famous product launches. Jesse Lyu, the CEO, demonstrated how the Rabbit R1 could play a song, order pizza, and book international travel—all with just a few voice commands.
The minimalist design—a single button, a small camera, and a tiny screen—was refreshing in a sea of overcomplicated devices. But as is often the case, the product couldn't live up to the hype. When it hit the market in May, the reviews were brutal. The device Lyu showcased on stage simply didn’t exist in reality. It was a vision that promised much but failed to deliver.
The Rabbit R1 suffered from the classic "overpromise and underdeliver" syndrome. Even during the initial hype, critics were already asking: Why can’t this just be an app? Turns out it almost is. Do we really need yet another device when our phones could do the same thing—probably better?
Humane AI Pin: Ambition Meets Execution
The Humane AI Pin is another fascinating attempt at creating a fully AI-powered device. This miniature clip-on gadget promises to simplify interactions with large language models like ChatGPT. Instead of an app, you wear this pin on your clothes, touch it, speak to it, and receive responses from the AI.
The pin also features a unique form of interaction—a laser projector that displays information on the palm of your hand. While novel, this feature has its limitations. Anyone who has used projection displays knows that they struggle in bright environments, especially direct sunlight. Even modern smartphones can be hard to see in sunlight, so relying on a laser-projected interface makes it practically unusable.
Reviews weren’t kind. Like the Rabbit R1, the Humane AI Pin seemed rushed to market, and at a steep price point of $799 plus a monthly subscription, its future looks uncertain. Despite raising $230 million by May 2023, it’s unclear whether the device will survive long term.
Limitless AI: A Simpler Approach
On the more affordable side is Limitless AI, another wearable AI device. Unlike the Humane Pin, Limitless focuses on recording your daily activities and taking notes, which can be accessed later from a computer. It’s priced at a much more reasonable $99, making it an easier sell to consumers.
While still in its early stages, Limitless AI aims to integrate an AI assistant, which seems to be the goal for many of these new gadgets. Time will tell if this device succeeds where others have stumbled, but its lower price and simpler functionality might give it a fighting chance.
AI-Driven Glasses: A New Frontier?
There’s also been buzz about AI-powered glasses like the Brilliant Labs Frame, which takes a different approach to physical AI. These glasses aim to integrate AI into your daily life through augmented reality. However, early reviews have been mixed. The build quality and usability leave a lot to be desired. Also like the others, it’s yet to be proven whether this is the future or just another passing trend. We all remember Google Glass from a few years ago which tried to bring augmented reality to consumers only to be discontinued a little while later. Was AI the missing piece in that equation? Time will tell.
The Real Question: Why Isn't This Just an App?
Here’s the big question surrounding all these AI devices: Why aren’t they apps?
The most common criticism is that there’s no real reason to create a physical device when existing apps on your phone can do the same thing. Whether it’s ordering food, playing music, or answering questions via AI, phones are already equipped to handle these tasks, and they do so without the need for yet another gadget to carry around.
In essence, many of these new devices are simply re-packaging AI functionality in a physical form. The Rabbit R1, the Humane AI Pin, and even the Limitless AI—all could likely be condensed into apps that leverage the supercomputers we already carry in our pockets. Until we see a truly innovative AI device that can't be replicated as an app, these gadgets face an uphill battle in the marketplace.
There are many AI implementations that don't require a physical device and their viability is much more certain. ChatGPT and Claude being the best examples, and even our own Personal Shopper plug-in for eCommerce websites.
The Road Ahead for Physical AI
AI wearables and devices are a fascinating trend, but for now, they seem to be solutions in search of a problem. Sure, it sounds useful to have an AI-powered pin, glasses, or wearable assistant, but the question remains: Do we really need these gadgets when our phones can already do it all?
Until these devices offer something that an app can’t, their road to success will be a challenging one.
Note: If you're reading this in the future, I suspect some of these companies won’t exist anymore. Keep an eye on those broken links!
Comments