Is Wearable AI the Next “Big Thing”?

James P Monahan
4 min readJul 3, 2023

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Photo by Possessed Photography on Unsplash

The world of technology has undergone remarkable transformations over the past few decades, with devices becoming increasingly powerful and compact.

From the Mac to the iPhone and the Apple Watch, our devices have evolved, empowering us to connect and access the internet from the palm of our hands.

So what does the future hold? And what lies beyond these familiar screens we have been used to for the last 30 odd years?

Many believe that augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR) glasses hold the answer, but do they truly represent the future of wearable AI?

The Evolving Relationship Between Humans and Technology

Ian Crosby, a former Apple designer, recently expressed the the evolution of our interaction with technology via a TED talk that unveils what he believes to be our technological future.

The desktop computer brought connectivity, but it confined us to our desks.

Laptops offered portability, yet still required us to be seated.

Smartphones revolutionized our lives by making the internet accessible on-the-go, while smartwatches acted as companion devices, providing valuable health insights.

So what comes next in this ever-evolving relationship between humans and technology?

The Vision of Invisible Technology

In 2017, renowned tech journalist Walt Mossberg predicted that technology would eventually become invisible, and Crosby and his company, Humane, couldn’t agree more.

Their mission is to design technology that genuinely improves people’s lives.

They believe that artificial intelligence (AI) will drive the next leap in device design, and they have been working tirelessly to answer the question of what comes next.

The Screenless, Seamless, and Sensing Experience

Humane’s groundbreaking solution is a new kind of wearable device and platform that is entirely built for AI.

It is a standalone device that does not require a smartphone or any other external pairing. The device interacts with the world just as we do, hearing what we hear and seeing what we see.

It prioritizes privacy and safety while seamlessly integrating into our lives. Humane aptly describes the experience as screenless, seamless, and sensing, allowing us to access the power of compute while remaining present in our surroundings.

Unleashing the Potential of AI Everywhere

The true significance of this innovation lies in the possibilities it unlocks. Wearable AI that becomes increasingly invisible affords us new opportunities to interact with technology.

Traditional interactions such as tapping on apps or using a mouse will be replaced by more natural and intuitive methods.

Humane has dedicated countless hours to reimagining and redesigning how we interact with compute, experimenting with complex voice commands and intricate hand gestures.

The Future of Technology: Wearable AI

Enabling a Truly Present and Contextual Experience

The goal is to create an ambient and contextual technology that understands us and our surroundings.

Humane’s AI device will learn from our usage patterns, becoming an ever-evolving personalized form of memory.

Imagine effortlessly navigating a new city without constantly looking at your phone or speaking fluently in a foreign language using your own voice and emotion.

These are just a glimpse of the possibilities when technology becomes invisible.

Responsible AI for a Better Future

Humane’s approach to AI is rooted in responsibility and trust.

They aim to create real, responsible compute products that serve us and enhance our lives.

The device provides tailored responses and guidance, helping us manage our workload, make informed decisions, and even adapt to specific dietary considerations.

It fosters a sense of freedom, enabling us to live authentically while leveraging the power of AI.

The Boundless Potential of AI

As AI continues to advance, its transformative potential will extend to every aspect of our lives, surpassing our current imagination.

By embedding AI advancements in wearable devices that seamlessly disappear into the background, we open doors to entirely new ways of interacting with technology and the world around us.

This paradigm shift promises more humane and intuitive experiences, where technology enhances our presence rather than distracts from it.

The future of wearable AI holds remarkable promise. By harnessing the power of AI, devices are poised to become screenless, seamless, and sensing, disappearing into the fabric of our lives.

Humane’s vision of invisible technology represents the next phase in the human-technology relationship, where compute aligns with our natural interactions.

As we embrace the possibilities of wearable AI, we embark on a journey toward a future where technology empowers us to be fully present, engaged, and connected in our experiences.

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