News/Wearables
Pixel Watch 4 adds curved display and satellite communication for $349
Google unveiled the Pixel Watch 4 at its Made by Google event, featuring a striking curved domed display beneath the signature teardrop glass design. The smartwatch maintains the same $349 starting price as its predecessor while delivering enhanced AI capabilities through Gemini integration, improved battery life, and upgraded internals including emergency satellite communication. What you should know: The Pixel Watch 4's most distinctive feature is its Actua 360 domed display that curves beneath the glass, creating better visibility at angles. The display offers 10% more active area and 15% smaller bezels compared to the Pixel Watch 3, with maximum brightness...
read Aug 20, 2025Google adds Gemini AI coach to Fitbit Premium this October
Google is integrating its Gemini AI into Fitbit to create an AI-powered health coach, marking the latest addition to the growing trend of AI-enhanced fitness wearables. The feature will be available to Fitbit Premium subscribers starting in October, transforming the platform from a passive data collector into an active wellness advisor that provides personalized fitness, sleep, and health guidance. What you should know: Fitbit's AI coach represents a fundamental shift in how wearable devices interact with users, moving beyond simple data collection to active health coaching.• The AI coach functions as a "fitness trainer, a sleep coach, and a health...
read Aug 14, 2025Envision and Solos launch $399 AI glasses for blind users
Envision has partnered with Solos to launch the Ally Solos Glasses, camera-equipped smart glasses specifically designed for blind and low-vision users. The $399 pre-order price represents a significant discount from the planned $699 retail price, positioning these accessibility-focused smart glasses as a more affordable alternative in the growing assistive technology market. Key details: The Ally Solos Glasses combine hardware from Solos with Envision's specialized AI assistant to provide comprehensive visual assistance. The glasses can read and translate text, describe surroundings, search the web, and recognize people, objects, and signs through built-in cameras. Information is delivered via open-ear speakers integrated into...
read Aug 14, 2025HTC launches AI-powered Vive Eagle smart glasses for $520. In Taiwan.
HTC has entered the competitive AI-powered smart glasses market with its new Vive Eagle smart glasses, featuring a built-in AI assistant, 12MP ultrawide camera, and built-in speakers. The move positions HTC alongside tech giants like Meta, Google, Samsung, and potentially Apple in the rapidly expanding smart eyewear category, though the glasses are currently only available in Taiwan for around $520. What you should know: The Vive Eagle glasses offer AI-powered features that directly compete with Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses offerings. Wearers can use the built-in Vive AI voice assistant to translate text they're viewing into 13 different languages through AI-powered...
read Aug 14, 2025GoPro creators can now earn 50% revenue from AI training footage. Here’s how to partake.
GoPro has built its reputation capturing extreme moments—mountain bikers bombing down alpine trails, surfers riding towering waves, and drone pilots weaving through forests at breakneck speeds. Now the action camera pioneer is offering creators a new way to monetize those adrenaline-fueled clips through an artificial intelligence training program that could transform user-generated content into steady revenue streams. The company recently launched an opt-in program allowing subscribers to license their cloud-stored footage to technology companies developing AI systems. Creators who participate receive 50% of the revenue GoPro collects from licensing deals, creating a potential income source from content that might otherwise...
read Aug 6, 2025AI dons a hard hat as construction industry unveils safety tools for jobsites
The Construction Industry Institute has unveiled new AI-powered safety tools for jobsites, developed by a research team from Texas A&M University, Louisiana State University, and 20 industry professionals. The initiative identifies 19 best use cases for artificial intelligence in construction safety protocols and provides a matching tool to help companies implement the most effective solutions for their specific needs. What you should know: The research team created a comprehensive framework that connects AI applications with current safety challenges on construction sites. Wearables and generative AI can predict dangerous jobsite locations and establish geofenced alerts that notify workers when entering high-risk...
read Jul 28, 2025Alibaba enters smart glasses market with AI-powered Quark eyewear launching end of 2025
Alibaba unveiled Quark AI Glasses on Monday, marking the Chinese e-commerce giant's first entry into the smart glasses market as a direct competitor to Meta's Ray-Ban collaboration. The AI-powered wearables, set to launch in China by the end of 2025, represent Alibaba's strategic push into hardware distribution for its Quark AI assistant, positioning the company to compete in what many tech leaders view as the next frontier of computing beyond smartphones. What you should know: The Quark AI Glasses will be powered by Alibaba's Qwen large language model and feature the company's advanced AI assistant called Quark. The glasses will...
read Jul 22, 2025Amazon acquires Bee’s $49.99 AI wearable for conversation tracking
Amazon is acquiring Bee, a startup that makes a $49.99 AI-powered wearable device that continuously listens to and transcribes conversations to generate daily summaries and insights. The acquisition signals Amazon's push into personal AI wearables, though the device has faced accuracy challenges in distinguishing real conversations from background media. What you should know: Bee's wearable functions like a Fitbit but focuses on audio processing rather than fitness tracking. The device transcribes conversations between users and people around them, creating personalized daily summaries, reminders, and suggestions through the Bee app. Users can grant the device access to emails, contacts, location data,...
read Jul 22, 2025CMF Watch 3 Pro brings AI coaching and 13-day battery for $99
Nothing's CMF sub-brand has launched the Watch 3 Pro, a $99 smartwatch that includes AI-powered fitness coaching, dual-band GPS, and up to 13 days of battery life. The device represents a significant upgrade from its $69 predecessor, positioning CMF to compete more aggressively in the budget smartwatch market dominated by brands like Amazfit and Xiaomi. Key features: The Watch 3 Pro focuses heavily on health and fitness tracking with several notable improvements over previous models. The device includes 131 different sport modes and features an AI coach that provides post-workout summaries and guidance for improvement, with particular emphasis on running...
read Jul 11, 2025Impatient users sideload Gemini onto Wear OS watches ahead of official rollout
Google is preparing to replace its Assistant with the more advanced Gemini AI across Wear OS smartwatches, but impatient users aren't waiting for the official rollout. Instead, they're taking matters into their own hands by sideloading Gemini directly onto their devices—a technical workaround that bypasses Google's staged deployment. This development comes as Samsung's Galaxy Watch 8 series becomes the first consumer smartwatches to ship with Gemini pre-installed. While Google has confirmed that Gemini will eventually reach all Wear OS devices running version 4 or later, including its own Pixel Watch models, no specific timeline has been announced for the broader...
read Jul 11, 2025Samsung explores AI earrings and necklaces as smartphone alternatives
Samsung is exploring new AI-powered wearable devices, potentially including earrings and necklaces, as part of an industry-wide push to develop alternatives to smartphone-based interactions. The company's mobile division chief Won-joon Choi revealed that Samsung is "looking at all kinds of possibilities" for wearable AI devices that could enable faster communication without requiring users to pull out their phones. What you should know: Samsung's approach focuses on companion devices that work alongside smartphones rather than standalone replacements. The company is actively developing smart glasses but recognizes that some consumers don't want to wear glasses because they change their appearance. Potential wearable...
read Jul 10, 2025Apple’s AI model detects health conditions with 92% accuracy using behavior data
Apple researchers have developed a new AI model called WBM (Wearable Behavior Model) that can detect health conditions with up to 92% accuracy by analyzing behavioral data from wearables rather than raw sensor readings. The breakthrough suggests that movement patterns, sleep habits, and exercise data may be more reliable health indicators than traditional biometric measurements like heart rate or blood oxygen levels. What you should know: The WBM model was trained on over 2.5 billion hours of data from Apple Watch and iPhone users, focusing on 27 behavioral metrics rather than raw sensor streams. The model analyzes higher-level behavioral patterns...
read Jul 9, 2025Galaxy Watch 8 brings Google’s Gemini AI to your wrist for $350
Samsung Electronics has unveiled its latest smartwatch lineup, the Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, featuring Google's Wear OS 6 operating system with built-in Gemini AI chatbot functionality. The devices represent Samsung's continued effort to compete with Apple in the smartwatch market, with the AI assistant accessible through voice commands or a dedicated button on the watch. Key product details: The new Galaxy Watch series includes two models priced at different tiers for varying consumer needs. The Galaxy Watch 8 is priced at $350, while the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic costs $500. Both devices are among the first...
read Jul 2, 2025Heart-of-hearing: Smart glasses display real-time subtitles for deaf users to reduce social isolation
TranscribeGlass has launched smart eyeglasses that display real-time subtitles of conversations directly onto the lens, designed primarily for deaf and hard-of-hearing users. The lightweight glasses cost $377 with a $20 monthly subscription and represent a focused approach to smart eyewear that prioritizes accessibility over flashy features. How it works: The 36-gram glasses use a companion iOS app to process audio and project subtitles onto a small display in the user's field of vision. A waveguide projector beams 640 x 480p text onto the glass, with no cameras, microphones, or speakers built into the frames themselves. Users can adjust subtitle positioning...
read Jun 27, 2025Xiaomi Smart Band 10 launches with AI fitness tracking for $37
Xiaomi has officially launched the Smart Band 10, its latest budget fitness tracker featuring a larger 1.72-inch AMOLED display, AI-powered fitness tracking, and enhanced ecosystem integration. Starting at just 269 RMB (~$37), the device maintains Xiaomi's commitment to affordable wearables while introducing significant upgrades that position it as a serious competitor in the fitness tracking market. What you should know: The Smart Band 10 represents a substantial upgrade over its predecessors with key improvements across display, fitness tracking, and smart features. The device features a 1.72-inch AMOLED display with narrower, symmetrical bezels, 1,500 nits peak brightness, and a 60Hz refresh...
read Jun 26, 2025Show me, Xiaomi: Chinese firm’s AI glasses offer features Meta’s Ray-Bans lack
Xiaomi has unveiled AI-powered smart glasses that feature electrochromic dimming technology, allowing users to manually adjust lens darkness by sliding their finger along the frame. While the glasses closely resemble Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses in design and core functionality, this manual dimming feature addresses a key limitation that has made smart glasses less practical for all-day wear across varying lighting conditions. What you should know: The Xiaomi AI glasses offer several hardware upgrades over Meta's current offerings while maintaining a similar price point. They feature a 12MP camera capable of 2K video recording at 30 frames per second, built-in microphones,...
read Jun 20, 2025Meta launches $499 Oakley smart glasses with 3K video and 8-hour battery
Meta has announced a new line of smart glasses developed in partnership with Oakley, with the limited-edition Oakley Meta HSTN model priced at $499 and available for preorder starting July 11th. The collaboration marks Meta's expansion into the athletic performance market while building on the success of its Ray-Ban smart glasses, which have sold over two million pairs to date. What you should know: The Oakley Meta glasses target athletes and active users with enhanced durability and performance features. • The glasses offer IPX4 water resistance rating and double the battery life of Meta Ray-Bans, providing 8 hours of use...
read Jun 19, 2025License to snoop, snipe? Plaud AI sells 1M voice recorders as workplace privacy debates intensify
Plaud AI has sold over one million of its voice-recording devices that use artificial intelligence to transcribe and summarize conversations in real-time. The wearable gadgets, priced at $159 each, are positioning themselves as productivity tools for corporate executives and professionals, but they're raising significant questions about workplace privacy and recording ethics as they prepare to hit Best Buy shelves this August. What you should know: Plaud offers two AI-powered recording devices designed to streamline workplace note-taking and meeting documentation. The Plaud Note slips into a phone case or shirt pocket, while the smaller Note Pin can be worn as a...
read Jun 17, 2025Ultrahuman launches $800 AI blood test analyzing 120+ health markers
Ultrahuman has launched Blood Vision, an AI-powered blood-testing platform in the US that analyzes over 120 blood markers for $800 annually, requiring users to provide 8-10 vials of blood at medical labs. The service promises to predict future health risks including cancer susceptibility and longevity markers, positioning itself as a comprehensive alternative to traditional blood testing in the growing convergence between wearable technology and healthcare services. What you should know: Blood Vision represents Ultrahuman's expansion beyond its smart ring product into predictive health analytics using extensive blood work. Users visit medical labs to provide eight to ten vials of blood,...
read Jun 17, 2025Developer gives failed $699 Humane AI Pin a glow-up, transforms it into custom AI assistant platform
A 29-year-old developer has successfully created PenumbraOS, a custom operating system that transforms the failed Humane AI Pin into a functional development platform for AI assistants. Adam Gastineau's 400-hour project represents one of the most ambitious attempts to salvage the $699 wearable device after Humane shut down its core functionality and was acquired by HP in February 2025. What you should know: Gastineau has effectively turned the AI Pin into "a normal Android device" capable of running custom applications and connecting directly to AI services. His system enables the pin to make direct WebSocket connections to OpenAI's real-time API, processing...
read Jun 13, 2025Google and Snap push XR mainstream with Android XR and $3B Spectacles bet
Augmented World Expo 2025 concluded in Long Beach, California, with Google's Android XR and Snap's consumer Spectacles announcement driving momentum for mainstream XR adoption. The three-day event, drawing over 5,000 attendees and 250 exhibitors, showcased how AI integration and mature hardware are finally positioning extended reality technologies—which blend digital content with the physical world—for widespread deployment across enterprise and consumer markets. What you should know: Industry leaders declared 2025 the year XR moves from experimental to mainstream, with AI serving as the critical catalyst. AWE co-founder Ori Inbar's keynote emphasized that "the hardware is good enough, the tools are mature,...
read Jun 12, 2025Snap’s next-gen Spectacles promise lighter design and AI features for 2026
Snap has unveiled its next-generation Spectacles AR glasses, which will be significantly lighter than previous models and feature advanced AI assistance powered by OpenAI and Google Gemini integrations. The announcement at the Augmented World Expo 2025 positions Snap to compete directly with Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses, addressing the major complaint about the weight of earlier Spectacles while adding multimodal AI capabilities for everyday use. What you should know: The new Specs represent a major hardware and software upgrade designed to make AR glasses more practical for daily wear. The glasses will be powered by Snapdragon processors and run on an...
read Jun 11, 2025Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses drop to $239 with rare 20% discount
Amazon is offering Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses for $239, marking a rare 20% discount on the popular wearable technology that combines Ray-Ban's classic design with Meta's AI capabilities. The deal represents significant savings on a product that was frequently out of stock during much of 2024 and has rarely seen price reductions since its launch. What you should know: The discounted glasses deliver near-AirPods audio quality while adding camera and AI assistant functionality that traditional headphones can't match. The smart glasses feature built-in speakers that provide audio quality "nearly as bright and clear as a pair of AirPods" for calls...
read Jun 10, 2025OpenAI and Jony Ive develop screenless AI wearable targeting 2027 launch
OpenAI is developing a screenless, wearable AI device in collaboration with legendary Apple designer Jony Ive that could potentially replace smartphones entirely. Expected to launch in late 2026 or early 2027, the pocket-sized device would feature microphones and cameras to provide contextually aware AI assistance without requiring users to look at a screen. What you should know: The device represents OpenAI's ambitious push beyond software into hardware, targeting the emerging ambient computing market. One version is rumored to resemble an iPod Shuffle worn around the neck, with touch or voice-based controls for real-time interaction with OpenAI's models. The device would...
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