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 options include glasses, earrings, watches, rings, and necklaces that users can wear without having to carry additional devices.
- Unlike failed AI gadgets like the Humane AI Pin, Samsung’s devices will complement existing phones rather than replace them entirely.
The big picture: Tech giants are racing to develop new AI hardware as AI services become more sophisticated and capable of handling complex tasks beyond basic text prompts.
- Meta has sold 2 million AI-powered Ray-Ban smart glasses since 2023 and recently acquired a minority stake in Ray-Ban parent company EssilorLuxottica.
- Samsung, Google, and Snap are all developing smart glasses, while OpenAI and ex-Apple designer Jony Ive are collaborating on a mysterious AI device for next year.
- The push reflects industry belief that AI could be as impactful as the internet itself, driving demand for devices requiring less manual input than smartphones.
Why this matters: The development of AI-powered wearables represents a potential shift away from screen-based interactions toward more natural, hands-free computing experiences.
- Current smartphones largely require typing and swiping on screens, creating opportunities for devices that respond to voice commands or other inputs.
- Success in this space could open new revenue streams for tech companies while making AI assistance more accessible throughout daily activities.
What they’re saying: Samsung executives emphasize the importance of wearability and convenience in next-generation AI devices.
- “We believe it should be wearable, something that you shouldn’t carry, (that) you don’t need to carry,” Choi explained to CNN.
- “We are actively working on glasses, but some people do not want to wear glasses because they change their look. So we are also exploring other types of devices.”
Competitive landscape: Previous attempts at AI-powered smartphone alternatives have struggled with execution and market reception.
- The Humane AI Pin flopped due to high pricing and buggy performance, leading the company to shut down the product and sell parts of itself to HP in February.
- The Rabbit R1 launched to lackluster reception last year, though it has undergone significant updates since then.
- A startup called Friend created an AI necklace designed as a digital companion, but its launch has been delayed until the third quarter of this year.
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