Ai wearables without displays: a gimmick or the future?

Ai wearables without displays: are we overselling the hype?

The buzz around artificial intelligence is deafening. Every flagship phone launch showcases ai features, and nearly every app is getting an ai-powered upgrade. While ai holds immense potential, many implementations feel forced and ultimately pointless. This trend has led to some questionable product announcements, most notably from Apple and OpenAI, claiming to be on the verge of transcending the smartphone experience. I remain skeptical.

The smartphone ai problem: lack of meaningful enhancement

To date, genuinely useful ai enhancements on smartphones are scarce. While photo editing tools have seen improvements, Apple's offerings lag behind. Most “ai enhancements” are superfluous – email summarizers, photo-description tools, and general question-answering systems that Google already handles effectively. The worst offenders are those that outsource your thinking, like asking an AI to choose an outfit based on a photo.

The limitations of current ai assistants

Modern AI often struggles to provide truly helpful answers. Asking an AI assistant about which outfit to wear usually results in a long-winded, ultimately unhelpful discussion of pros and cons. While useful for specific niche applications, AI is largely unnecessary for most everyday tasks. This begs the question: why are Apple and OpenAI forcing it into devices lacking a display?

Apple's pendant: an ai device with no screen

Apple is reportedly developing a pendant-like device, potentially never released, designed as an AI-powered wearable alternative to smart glasses. Alongside this, they’re exploring AirPods with built-in cameras. These devices represent a curious departure from the current trend of visual wearables.

Openai's smart speaker: a portable ai companion

OpenAI is working on a smart speaker, rumored to be the project former Apple designer Jony Ive is collaborating on. This device, envisioned as a portable friend, will feature a microphone and camera, allowing for natural conversation and proactive suggestions based on user context. The speaker can be placed anywhere or worn around the house.

The display dilemma: why no screen?

The core issue lies in the lack of a display. Even with Bluetooth earphones to avoid broadcasting conversations, the limitations are significant. Playing music requires voice commands, sending messages necessitates dictation, and watching videos or playing games is simply impossible. What, exactly, is the point of such a device?

Smart glasses offer a more promising future

Smart glasses, with their built-in speakers and the potential for augmented reality (AR) displays, represent a more logical evolution. They offer a degree of privacy and functionality that these screenless devices lack. While AR technology is still developing, it holds the promise of seamlessly integrating digital information into our physical world.

Ultimately, I find the concept of pendants and screenless smart speakers perplexing. The current implementation of AI simply doesn't justify the compromises. I’d love to discuss these ideas further with you on X and Threads – let’s hear your thoughts!