Shamraiz | January 10, 2025
AI-enabled wearables – the new epoch of continuous listening
AI-enabled wearables such as Bee AI and Omi are revolutionizing how we interact with technology as they record and process our conversation to provide us with real-time insights and actionable tasks. Equipped with always-on microphones, these wearables are furthering the embedded nature of AI in daily life.
I tested Bee AI’s Pioneer: a yellow wristband that invisibly recorded and processed my talks. It never stored raw audio, but would summarize conversations with me and keep to-do lists from in-person chats- hints at the coming future of the AI personal assistants. The recent wearable Omi takes this further. Using EEG tech, it’ll respond to commands thought into existence, bypassing the need to speak to do so.
Both Bee AI and Omi are low-cost hardware options, priced at $50 and $89, respectively, but the real magic happens in the software. These wearables use large language models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini for conversation analysis, summarization, and task generation. Bee AI users can have a more robust experience with its wearable device or access basic features through its app, while Omi focuses on open-source development with community-built integrations, including Google Drive compatibility.
Co-founded by Maria de Lourdes Zollo and Ethan Sutin, who hail from companies like Tencent and TikTok, the platform was launched in early 2023. Nikita Shevchenko, the brainchild behind Omi, dreams of the wearable reading brain waves and creating AI clones of the user for communication and mentorship purposes.
Always-on microphones raise questions about privacy and consent. Bee AI’s wearable lacks a recording indicator light, a feature Omi includes for transparency. Data is processed in the cloud, with both companies ensuring privacy by treating conversations as sensitive and not monetizing user data.
The Potential of AI Wearables
These AI-enabled devices are ideal for professionals who rely heavily on conversations. They generate summaries, action plans, and even mentoring tips post-interactions, offering users a virtual assistant that blends seamlessly into daily life. Wearables like Bee AI and Omi are still in the early stages of development but give an inkling of a future where AI is always present and proactive.
