After an early disappointment, AI pendants are back in style at tech shows
AI Wearables Make a Comeback at CES, Rekindling Privacy Debate
Las Vegas: Artificial intelligence-powered pendants, brooches, and other body-worn devices took centre stage at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), signalling a renewed push for wearable AI nearly a year after the high-profile failure of the Humane AI Pin.
Packed with cameras and microphones, the devices promise to function as always-on personal assistants—listening, watching, and recording moments throughout the day. Their return comes amid broader industry momentum, including a collaboration between OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman and famed designer Jony Ive on a new AI-focused device expected to launch next year.
Not everyone is convinced. Concerns over privacy and “surveillance capitalism” have followed the category closely. In late 2025, subway advertisements in New York for Friend-branded AI pendants were defaced with graffiti reading “Go make some real friends,” reflecting unease over constant digital monitoring.
Despite criticism, CES exhibitors pitched AI pendants as practical tools for note-taking, reminders, and capturing meaningful daily moments. Advances in chip design and software have helped address earlier shortcomings such as poor battery life, unstable performance, and awkward conversational abilities that plagued first-generation devices.
Big Tech Bets on Wearable AI
China-based Lenovo unveiled a prototype pendant through its Motorola subsidiary that enables hands-free voice control of its AI assistant, Qira, while capturing audio and images throughout the day.
Big tech companies are also doubling down. Amazon acquired wearable AI startup Bee last year, while Meta bought AI device company Limitless. Bee’s products—designed to be worn on the wrist, belt, or lapel—focus on note-taking, reminders, and calendar management. Meta, meanwhile, continues to integrate AI into its Ray-Ban smart glasses as part of its broader push toward AI “superintelligence.”
Multiple Form Factors, One Goal
Startups showcased a wide range of approaches to wearable AI. Vocci opted for a smart ring focused on AI-assisted note-taking, while Plaud presented both a pin-style device and a slim rectangular recorder scarcely thicker than a credit card.
Chinese startup iBuddi debuted a companion medallion aimed at reducing screen fatigue. Founder Yin Haitian said the product is designed to replace certain phone interactions rather than introduce another attention-grabbing screen. “It reacts to moments that matter instead of continuously recording everything,” he told AFP, adding that the device is not built around surveillance. iBuddi plans a commercial launch in July.
At the other end of the spectrum, the Looki L1 wearable continuously records a user’s point of view, offering real-time advice—such as when to avoid another cup of coffee—and summarising the day’s activities in a comic-strip format.
Privacy Still a Concern
“Consumer expectations regarding privacy haven’t disappeared, but they are shifting,” said Avi Greengart, analyst at Techsponential. “We’re already surrounded by smartphones, city camera networks, and smart devices we willingly put in our homes.”
Greengart said wearable AI is unlikely to replace smartphones in the near future but expects it to become a common addition alongside smartwatches, rings, and glasses.
For users uneasy about constant monitoring, CES also featured counter-solutions. One startup showcased “Wearphone,” a face mask with built-in earbuds and microphones designed to keep conversations private—underscoring that even as AI wearables gain traction, privacy remains a central concern.
