As the capabilities of large models continue to improve, the applications of generative AI are rapidly expanding, gradually unlocking new use cases. Nowadays, AI large models have already ushered in their “iPhone moment” in fields such as the internet (including search and advertising), office work, and finance.
Of course, the way ordinary users interact with large models is not limited to software applications. With the rapid rise of AI, the tech world increasingly yearns for hardware specifically designed to showcase AI’s true potential. In the era of AI large models, what would be the ideal form of hardware? Despite some negative feedback surrounding products like the Rabbit R1 and AI Pin, and growing skepticism about the future of AI hardware, the answer remains a resounding yes.
Currently, AI hardware aimed at consumers falls into two main categories: general-purpose and specialized.
General-purpose AI hardware, such as Rabbit and AI Pin, aims to cover multiple areas, including entertainment, daily life, and office work, striving to become a significant terminal beyond smartphones. However, with high expectations often comes greater disappointment. While these products initially garnered substantial attention and traffic, they faced criticism and skepticism once they hit the market. Still, we believe that a new super-terminal will emerge in the future.
Specialized AI hardware focuses on specific purposes, such as voice recorders, conference headsets, NAS devices, chess, and sports equipment. On Kickstarter, several smart chess products have made a hit, offering not only AI-assisted teaching but also remote gameplay, with the remarkable ability to move chess pieces automatically. A variety of small AI-powered gadgets are constantly emerging, demonstrating the untapped potential of AI.
Today, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular AI hardware on the market.
Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer smart glasses
Ray-Ban’s smart glasses bear a close resemblance to traditional sunglasses, with a simple and stylish design that offers a comfortable fit. The weight is well-balanced, ensuring the glasses don’t feel burdensome for the user. However, beneath its stylish appearance are powerful features that go far beyond what you can see at first glance. Ray-Ban’s smart glasses support real-time AI conversation functions, allowing users to control various operations through voice commands. With just a few spoken words, users can seamlessly navigate the glasses. The AI real-time conversation feature provides users with a more convenient experience.
In addition to basic smart functions, these glasses also support photo and video capture. Users can record high-quality photos and videos from a first-person perspective, making them perfect for documenting everyday moments and capturing immersive experiences. The video quality is impressive, easily meeting the standards for social media sharing—both practical and fun.
The glasses come with software that supports various music platforms, paired with open-ear headphones that deliver decent sound quality. This makes the music-listening experience highly satisfying.
This year has also seen the rise of other smart glasses, such as the recently popular Open Glass, which can be made for just $20. In the foreseeable future, smart glasses are likely to become a mainstream AI hardware device.
Plaud Note: The Recorder Behind Your Smartphone
Plaud Note is a revolutionary smart recorder, hailed as “the world’s first recording device powered by ChatGPT”. It’s far more than a simple recording tool—it’s a multifunctional meeting assistant. Whether it’s recording meetings, iPhone calls, voice memos, or transcribing audio, Plaud Note handles it all with ease. At its core is a tri-microphone dual-pickup system co-developed by Knowles and Sonion, ensuring high fidelity and clarity in sound capture, even in noisy environments, allowing it to precisely pick up every detail.
Plaud Note’s power goes beyond hardware—its software capabilities are equally impressive. Leveraging the advanced AI of ChatGPT, this recorder not only transcribes audio content in real-time but also automatically generates summaries, mind maps, and even turns spoken content into to-do lists. Whether you need to quickly organize thoughts during an intense meeting or structure creative ideas post-recording, Plaud Note efficiently supports users every step of the way.
Designed with simplicity in mind, Plaud Note features a minimalist, card-like design that is slim, lightweight, and easy to carry—making it perfect for use in various settings. By combining cutting-edge recording technology with AI processing, Plaud Note offers users a seamlessly intelligent recording experience.
For those frequently tasked with writing meeting minutes, Plaud Note is the perfect companion—you’ll never have to strain your brain in meetings again.
Samsung Galaxy Ring: A Stylish Essential for Health and Wellness
At the highly anticipated 2024 Mobile World Congress (MWC 2024) earlier this year, Samsung unveiled its flagship product of the year—the “Galaxy Ring” smart ring. Equipped with advanced health sensors such as skin temperature and accelerometers, the Samsung Galaxy Ring can continuously monitor key health metrics like heart rate, stress levels, and body and skin temperature, giving users real-time insights into their health and enabling timely adjustments.
Powered by Galaxy AI technology, the smart ring sends immediate alerts if it detects abnormal heart rates, helping users take prompt action. Additionally, the Galaxy Ring supports comprehensive sleep analysis, tracking sleep patterns and displaying data such as sleep duration, heart rate, and breathing frequency through the Samsung Health app, allowing users to understand their sleep quality better.
With its precise health monitoring capabilities and intelligent analysis features, the Samsung Galaxy Ring not only enhances the convenience of daily health management but also offers users a new way to deeply understand their well-being—perfect for those who seek a blend of fashion and cutting-edge technology.
Cyber Dog 2: Xiaomi AI and Dogs
The four-legged robot has become a hot topic in the tech world, from Boston Dynamics’ Spot in the U.S. to ANYbotics’ ANYmal in Switzerland, as well as similar products from domestic companies like Yushu and Cloud Deep. Xiaomi introduced its first bionic quadruped robot, CyberDog, in 2021, affectionately nicknamed “Iron Egg”. On August 14th this year, Xiaomi’s CEO, Lei Jun, unveiled the upgraded CyberDog 2 during his annual speech.
Building on the strengths of its predecessor, the CyberDog 2 has undergone a comprehensive technical upgrade. It features Xiaomi’s new generation of high-performance motors, significantly enhancing its dynamic response capabilities and making its movements more agile and diverse. The upgraded 19-sensor system is deeply integrated with Xiao Ai’s AI voice interaction system, providing a more advanced bionic interaction experience.
In addition, the CyberDog 2 boasts innovative design elements, including nine detachable exterior components that support 3D-printed replacements. This allows users to customize their robot’s appearance according to personal preferences, creating a unique “pet” image. With these upgrades, CyberDog 2 not only reaches new heights in functionality and interaction but also offers users more personalized options.
Friend: Your AI Companion for Recording Life
Friend is an open-source AI necklace developed by Nik Shevchenko and his team. Priced at $69 for consumers, it comes equipped with a speaker, onboard memory, and a vibration motor for instant notifications, along with a microphone and Bluetooth connectivity. The front LED light stays on to indicate that the device is recording.
Friend’s primary function is to serve as an assistant for social and professional activities, helping users record meetings and conversations while recalling the details of discussions. It highlights the participants in meetings, their names, and the topics discussed. The AI generates records, conversation summaries, and action item lists, storing this information securely on the user’s phone. Recently, Friend has added a new feature that syncs the people you meet with Notion CRM, ensuring you never forget other’s name again.
To protect user privacy, the Friend device does not store any recordings. Conversations are transcribed via AI voice-to-text software and the records are securely stored locally on the phone. This necklace not only listens and remembers conversations but also helps with note-taking and task preparation, providing real-time notifications and comprehensive memory features to keep your work organized.
That’s all for today. Did any of the AI hardware mentioned catch your eye? Would you consider buying one? Feel free to leave a comment and share your thoughts!
In addition to the AI hardware products mentioned above, there are many other intriguing AI hardware projects, such as an AI camera project that Professor Li Dawei shared with us in a previous interview. If you’re interested, we’ll continue sharing more in the future. Feel free to like, comment, and share!
Maker Faire Shenzhen 2024
Call for Makers Now Officially Open!
Date: November 16th-17th, 2024 (Weekend)
Maker Faire Shenzhen is officially scheduled for November 16-17 with the theme “Enchant everything with AI“, is officially scheduled for November 16-17. The event aims to spotlight AI hardware innovators and showcase the vast possibilities of integrating artificial intelligence across industries. Click to learn more.
If you’d like to present your years of technological innovation and stories of driving industry transformation at China’s largest maker innovation festival—especially showcasing AI-powered achievements—this is the place to be. You’ll have the opportunity to connect with like-minded makers, explore the cutting-edge applications of AI in various fields, and discuss the future of AI technology. Scan the QR code at the end of this article or click here to register. Let’s come together in the era of “Everything Can Be AI” to propel the limitless possibilities of the future!
Scan to Register
Registration Period: June 26th, 2024 – September 30th, 2024
Summit Dates: November 16th, 2024 – November 17th, 2024 (Weekend)
P.S. Companies that reserved booths last year do not need to reapply. Stay tuned for more recruitment channels and upcoming activities.
Recap video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeBJae0fHaI
