Wearable AI pin devices, while innovative, have had a rocky start in a skeptical market. (Photo by ... [+]
There is a new category in wearable technology called AI Pins. These are innovative wearable devices that feature a camera and a projector and can be worn as a chest pin or an accessory. These devices, like the Humane AI Pin and the Rabbit r1, have been in the news lately. Both have had a rocky start, given some reviews written that pan them.
Ray Wong, writing in the NY Times about the Humane AI Pin, said, "I wouldn't pay $700 for this pin — let alone the $24-a-month subscription required to use its data services, including its T-Mobile cellular plan."
After reviewing the AI Pin, YouTube personality and reviewer Marques Brownlee said, "It was the worst product I ever reviewed."
Another product in this category is the Rabbit r1, introduced this week at an unboxing event in New York City. Initial reviews were not favorable either, although this early version admittedly still has some bugs. It retails for $199, and I suspect that this product will also get harsh reviews as people who picked it up at the unboxing event begin posting about their experience with it in the next few weeks.
While I am not opposed to the concept of a wearable AI product, I am not convinced that a wearable AI pin is the form factor that will successfully deliver on-demand AI information. Also, when I look for the business model behind these devices, it includes hardware, apps, and, in Humane AI's case, a $24-a-month subscription that would only work if they sold hundreds of thousands of these pins in a year.
As I analyzed some of the features delivered through an AI pin, such as language translation, AI answers on command, etc., I noted that these features are already on a smartphone. Now, the smartphone is not wearable but typically in a pocket or purse and at the beck and call of a user as needed.
I believe smart glasses are the right wearable form factor to deliver AI-like on-demand functionality. This week, Meta added some of these features to its Meta-Rayban Wayfarer glasses.
In a press release on April 24, 2024, Meta said that-
"We're adding video calling with WhatsApp and Messenger to share your view on a video call. We're rolling out Meta AI with Vision, so you can ask your glasses about what you see and get helpful information — completely hands-free."
Meta goes on to say-
"And in the U.S. and Canada, you also get Meta AI — an intelligent assistant that helps you get things done, create and connect with the people and things you care about. Just say, "Hey, Meta," and ask away! You can control the glasses using voice commands, and thanks to Meta AI, even get access to real-time information.
Say you're traveling and trying to read a menu in French. Your smart glasses can use their built-in camera and Meta AI to translate the text for you, giving you the info you need without having to pull out your phone or stare at a screen."
I have been using my Meta-Rayban Wayfarer 3s for months. I love its ability to take photos on demand and the incredible audio it provides for calls and listening to music. I will soon download the new features just released, and given Meta's ability to deliver high-quality software, my glasses will deliver serious AI features in a glasses format.
But in a future version of the Meta-Rayban glasses, I would like to see Meta add technology that already exists in smart glasses like Viture One, Xreal Pro 2, and others that include screens on the lenses. This feature allows a person to view content from a source like a smartphone, handheld game machine, or even a computer. Today, these smart glasses get their intelligence from the device to which they are connected.
Adding a screen to the Wayfarer glasses would enable individuals to access information displayed on that screen, providing answers to their queries and enhancing visual capabilities. This example could include features like turn-by-turn walking directions and visual and audio translation while maintaining the AI intelligence sourced from a connected smartphone via Bluetooth. Consequently, this integration could transform the Wayfarer glasses into a standalone AI wearable device.
Smart glasses make the ideal wearable AI accessory, and even if Meta does not take the Meta-Rayban in this direction, I am convinced that others will see that smart glasses are a better way to deliver an AI wearable in the future.
