News/Wearables
Ray-Ban, Meta launch $799 smart glasses that require mandatory in-store demos to buy
Ray-Ban and Meta have launched the Display & Neural Band, a $799 smart glasses system that projects text and images directly onto the lens while being controlled through subtle finger gestures via a companion wristband. The device represents a significant leap in wearable AI technology, featuring real-time translation capabilities and requiring mandatory in-store demos at Best Buy before purchase—a strategic shift toward tactile retail experiences for high-tech eyewear. What you should know: The Display & Neural Band combines advanced visual projection technology with gesture-based controls to create a hands-free computing experience. The glasses use micro-projector and waveguide technology to display...
read Oct 6, 2025Got AI? Merck’s collars for dairy cows predict illness 48 hours before symptoms appear
Dairy farmers are now using high-tech collars equipped with movement sensors, Wi-Fi, and AI to monitor cow health and optimize milk production. These wearable devices, manufactured by Merck, a healthcare company, can predict illness up to 48 hours before symptoms appear, allowing farmers like Tony Louters in California to intervene early and prevent costly milk losses. What you should know: The collars represent a major evolution in livestock monitoring technology, transforming from basic pedometers in 2013 to sophisticated AI-powered health monitoring systems. Each of Louters's 700 cows wears a collar that continuously tracks biometric data and sends alerts to his...
read Sep 30, 2025Friend’s $1M NYC subway ad campaign faces fierce, unfriendly anti-AI vandalism
New Yorkers are defacing a million-dollar subway ad campaign by AI startup Friend, with vandals scrawling messages like "AI wouldn't care if you lived or died" and "stop profiting off of loneliness" across thousands of ads. The company's 22-year-old CEO Avi Schiffmann admits he deliberately provoked the backlash, spending over $1 million on more than 11,000 subway car ads to spark social commentary about AI companionship in a city he knew would be hostile to the concept. What you should know: Friend sells a $129 wearable device that hangs around users' necks and listens to conversations, positioning itself as an...
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Google rolls out 4 audio enhancements for Pixel Buds Pro 2 earbuds
Google has begun rolling out a significant software update for its Pixel Buds Pro 2 earbuds, delivering four major audio enhancements that were first teased at the company's Made by Google event last month. The update introduces adaptive audio technology, hands-free gesture controls, enhanced noise protection, and improved AI assistant functionality—features that collectively represent one of the most substantial upgrades the premium earbuds have received since their 2024 launch. This update arrives as competition intensifies in the premium earbud market, with Apple's AirPods Pro 2 setting benchmarks for adaptive audio features and other manufacturers racing to match sophisticated noise management...
read Sep 24, 2025Meta opens eye-popping pop-up shops in 3 cities for $799 smart glasses
Meta is launching pop-up shops in three major cities to showcase its upcoming smart glasses with display technology, including the $799 Ray-Ban Display glasses set to release September 30th. The retail expansion aims to give consumers hands-on experience with Meta's growing lineup of smart eyewear and VR hardware ahead of the holiday shopping season. What you should know: Meta Lab pop-up shops will open in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and New York between October and November 2024. The Las Vegas location at Wynn Las Vegas opens October 16th. The Los Angeles shop on Melrose Avenue reopens October 24th, expanding to...
read Sep 19, 2025Meta’s AI demo failures blamed on self-inflicted DDoS wound
Meta faced multiple high-profile AI demo failures at its Connect conference, with the company's CTO later attributing the incidents to an accidental distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack and an obscure software bug. The failures highlighted the challenges facing live AI technology demonstrations and raised questions about the readiness of Meta's smart glasses technology for widespread deployment. What happened: Two major demos malfunctioned during Meta's showcase of its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses with Live AI capabilities. During the first demo, an Instagram influencer attempting to get cooking help from the AI assistant experienced multiple failures, with the AI incorrectly assessing his progress...
read Sep 19, 2025Apple Watch uses AI to detect high blood pressure without cuffs
Apple Watch Series 11 introduces an AI-powered blood pressure notification feature that can alert users to potential hypertension without requiring a traditional cuff-based monitor. The FDA-approved feature uses artificial intelligence to analyze existing sensor data and could help address the global health crisis where half of the 1 billion people with high blood pressure remain undiagnosed. How it works: Apple developed the feature by applying machine learning models to data from 100,000 participants in its heart and movement study launched in 2019. The AI algorithm analyzes signals from the watch's main heart-related sensor and matches patterns with traditional blood pressure...
read Sep 19, 2025OpenAI poaches 24+ Apple engineers for consumer AI hardware launch
OpenAI and former Apple design chief Jony Ive have recruited over two dozen Apple employees for their hardware venture, io, and secured partnerships with key Apple suppliers including Luxshare and Goertek. The talent acquisition represents a significant brain drain from Apple's hardware teams, as OpenAI targets a late 2026 or early 2027 launch for its first consumer AI devices. What you should know: The io venture is developing multiple AI-powered consumer products with help from Apple's established supply chain.• Luxshare, which assembles iPhones and AirPods, has already secured a contract to manufacture at least one OpenAI device.• OpenAI has approached...
read Sep 18, 2025Meta’s $799 Ray-Ban Display glasses add screens to smart eyewear
Meta has unveiled its Ray-Ban Display glasses, featuring a tiny screen inside the lens that allows users to read messages, view photos, and get directions without looking at their phones. Priced at $799 and launching September 30 in limited US stores, the glasses represent Meta's latest push into AI-powered wearables and a significant step toward mainstream augmented reality adoption. What you should know: The Display glasses build on Meta's existing smart glasses line by adding visual feedback through a small display in the right lens corner. Unlike previous audio-only versions, users can now see text messages, Instagram Reels, maps, and...
read Sep 18, 2025What the Zuck?! Meta’s live AI demos fail spectacularly at Connect conference
Meta's highly anticipated live AI demos at its annual Connect conference suffered multiple technical failures, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg visibly frustrated as both smart glasses demonstrations malfunctioned on stage. The embarrassing glitches undermined the company's attempt to showcase what Zuckerberg called a "huge scientific leap" in neural band technology and AI-powered smart glasses. What went wrong: Two separate live demonstrations failed spectacularly, leaving Zuckerberg scrambling to maintain composure in front of the audience. An Instagram influencer testing the Live AI feature on Meta's smart glasses couldn't get the system to properly respond to cooking questions, with the AI incorrectly assessing...
read Sep 17, 2025Nothing proves it’s better than something as it raises $200M to build AI-native OS for smartphones
Nothing has secured $200 million in funding at a $1.3 billion valuation to develop its own AI-native operating system that will initially launch on smartphones, audio products, and smartwatches. CEO Carl Pei envisions a radically personalized OS where AI agents handle tasks proactively, with the company's first AI-native devices launching as early as 2026. What you should know: Nothing's new OS will fundamentally reimagine how people interact with devices through hyper-personalization and AI automation. The operating system will be "significantly different" from current platforms, designed to know users deeply and adapt interfaces based on context and needs. AI agents will...
read Sep 16, 2025Rock ‘Em, Sock ‘Em: AI-powered robotic hosiery helps millions with foot drop disability
Two Harvard engineering students and Army veterans have developed Sole1, a robotic sock that uses artificial intelligence to help people with foot drop, a walking disability affecting thousands. The device just won the US James Dyson Award and could offer a more comfortable, less visible alternative to existing bulky braces that have remained largely unchanged since the 1940s. The big picture: Bradley Wagman and Viktor Bokisch are leveraging their military experience and engineering expertise to create assistive technologies for disabled veterans and others facing mobility challenges. Both veterans sustained injuries during their service—Wagman from parachute training and Bokisch from deployment-related...
read Sep 16, 2025Brilliant Labs integrates Liquid AI to boost smart glasses vision processing
Brilliant Labs has partnered with MIT-born Liquid AI to integrate advanced vision-language foundation models into its Halo smart glasses, significantly enhancing the device's ability to interpret visual content. This collaboration aims to improve the glasses' agentic memory capabilities, which create personalized knowledge bases by analyzing users' daily experiences and providing contextual responses to future questions. What you should know: The partnership will integrate Liquid AI's LFM2-VL series models into Brilliant Labs' products, starting with the Halo AI glasses launched in July. Liquid AI's vision-language foundation models can process text and images at various resolutions with "millisecond latency," transforming camera sensor...
read Sep 11, 2025How Apple’s translation AirPods create new economic value in consumption (not production)
Apple's new AirPods feature live translation capabilities, marking one of the first tangible examples of AI creating entirely new possibilities rather than simply reducing costs. The technology addresses language barriers that act as "invisible tariffs" on the global economy, potentially opening new markets and unleashing economic opportunities previously constrained by communication gaps. The big picture: Unlike most AI applications that focus on replacing human labor or cutting costs, Apple's translation-enabled AirPods represent AI's potential to expand consumption and create new economic value rather than just making existing processes cheaper. Why this matters: According to PWC, a global consulting firm, two-thirds...
read Sep 11, 2025WIRED tested the $129 AI necklace that alienates users and fails technically
The Friend, a $129 AI necklace created by 22-year-old entrepreneur Avi Schiffmann, continuously records conversations and responds with intentionally rude commentary designed to combat loneliness. Two WIRED reporters who tested the device found it to be a social disaster that alienated people at gatherings and suffered from significant technical problems, highlighting broader issues with always-on AI wearables. What you should know: The Friend pendant hangs around users' necks and records everything they say, then uses AI to provide snarky commentary about their conversations. The device is designed with a deliberately foul mood, as Schiffmann believes moodiness makes AI more engaging...
read Sep 10, 2025Arm launches Lumex chips for on-device AI in smartphones and wearables
Arm Holdings launched Lumex, its next-generation mobile chip designs optimized for artificial intelligence that can run on smartphones and wearable devices without internet connectivity. The new designs represent Arm's strategic push to capitalize on the growing demand for on-device AI processing, offering four variants ranging from energy-efficient options for smartwatches to high-performance versions capable of running large AI models directly on premium smartphones. What you should know: Lumex encompasses four different chip design types, each tailored for specific device categories and performance requirements. The designs range from low-power, energy-efficient versions for smartwatches and wearable devices to maximum-performance variants designed for...
read Sep 9, 2025Apple Watch can now detect creeping hypertension with machine learning
Apple's latest Apple Watch now includes hypertension detection capabilities, marking the tech giant's entry into monitoring what's often called the "silent killer." The feature uses machine learning to identify high blood pressure in users, targeting a condition that affects over a billion people globally and often goes undiagnosed until serious complications arise. Why this matters: Hypertension frequently presents no obvious symptoms while silently damaging blood vessels and organs, making early detection through wearable technology potentially life-saving for millions of users. The technology: Apple's implementation relies on machine learning algorithms integrated into the watch's existing sensor array to monitor blood pressure...
read Sep 9, 2025Massachusetts startups pursue “AgeTech” to tackle senior care crisis
Massachusetts-based startups are developing AI-powered robots and wearable devices to address the challenges of a rapidly aging population amid severe caregiver shortages. These "age-tech" companies are targeting a market where 13% of the state's 1.2 million seniors have dementia and one-quarter of direct care positions remain unfilled, though venture capital investment in the sector remains limited. What you should know: Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute have created Abbi, an AI-powered conversational robot designed to combat loneliness among seniors with dementia. The robot runs on SoftBank hardware and engages residents in personalized conversations using preloaded pictures and topics from their life...
read Sep 5, 2025Whoa, Timekettle’s $349 W4 AI earbuds translate 42 languages with “bone conduction” tech
Timekettle has launched the W4 AI Interpreter Earbuds, real-time translation earbuds priced at $349 that use bone conduction technology to improve voice recognition accuracy in noisy environments. The earbuds represent a more affordable and casual-friendly alternative to the company's $449 over-ear W4 Pro, featuring a modern wireless earbud design optimized for everyday translation needs across 42 languages and 95 accents. Key features: The W4 AI earbuds combine traditional microphones with bone conduction sensors to achieve up to 98 percent translation accuracy, even in loud environments. The bone conduction technology detects voice vibrations through head bones, allowing for more accurate speech...
read Sep 2, 2025Eager to tri it? Samsung’s $2.9K Galaxy Z TriFold launches September 29…in South Korea
Samsung has announced plans to launch its dual-hinged Galaxy Z TriFold smartphone on September 29 in South Korea, according to new leaks from industry sources. The device, which could be priced upwards of $2,930, represents Samsung's ambitious entry into the emerging tri-fold smartphone market and will debut alongside the company's Project Moohan XR headset and potentially new AI-powered smart glasses. What you should know: The Galaxy Z TriFold will be Samsung's first dual-hinged foldable device, offering users a triple-screen experience when fully unfolded. Previous leaks suggest the device will be priced upwards of 4 million KRW (~$2,930), reflecting the complexity...
read Aug 29, 2025Everyday Low Vises: Meta’s hidden Ray-Ban smart glasses store offers $76 discounts
Meta has launched a little-known refurbished Ray-Ban smart glasses store offering discounts up to $76 off retail prices, with products arriving in original packaging and pristine condition. The hidden marketplace provides access to discontinued styles and hard-to-find configurations that have been largely out of stock at traditional retailers for the past two years. What you should know: Meta's refurbished smart glasses are essentially new products sold at 20% discounts through a dedicated online store.• ZDNET Editor-in-Chief Jason Hiner purchased Skylar-style glasses with Shiny Caramel frames for $263, down from the $329 retail price, with some configurations discounted by as much...
read Aug 27, 2025Rokid’s $599 AI glasses challenge Meta with built-in displays
Rokid has launched a Kickstarter campaign for its new AI Glasses, featuring dual micro LED displays that provide heads-up functionality for navigation, real-time translation, and teleprompter capabilities. Priced at $599 with November shipping, these glasses directly challenge Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses by offering visual displays that Meta's current $299 model lacks, potentially positioning Rokid advantageously ahead of Meta's rumored $800 AR glasses launch. What you should know: Rokid's AI Glasses combine familiar smart glasses features with breakthrough display technology that sets them apart from existing competitors. The glasses include a 12MP camera, open-ear speakers, and ChatGPT integration for capturing moments,...
read Aug 26, 2025Sneaky Peek: Halo X smart glasses record conversations without consent, raising privacy concerns
Harvard dropouts AnhPhu Nguyen and Caine Ardayfio have unveiled Halo X, AI-powered smart glasses that continuously record and transcribe every conversation while providing real-time AI insights to users. The device has sparked widespread backlash on social media, with critics condemning it as a dystopian surveillance tool that threatens privacy and could further erode critical thinking skills. What makes this controversial: Unlike Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses, the Halo X deliberately omits visual indicators that would alert others when they're being recorded. Co-founder Nguyen told Futurism their core difference is "we aim to literally record everything in your life, and we think...
read Aug 21, 2025Dapper AI: MIT startup creates smart clothing that adjusts temperature
Ministry of Supply, an MIT-connected apparel company, is integrating artificial intelligence across both its smart clothing products and business operations. Founded by Gihan Amarasiriwardena, the company demonstrates how AI can transform traditional retail through advanced garment technology and intelligent business processes, offering a glimpse into the future of connected wearables. What you should know: Ministry of Supply creates performance apparel that combines style with AI-powered functionality and sustainable manufacturing practices. The company produces machine-washable clothing from recycled and low-carbon materials using energy-saving manufacturing models. All products undergo rigorous performance durability tests and are "backed by science," according to Amarasiriwardena. AI...
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