A burgeoning array of AI-powered gadgets is entering the market, designed to seamlessly integrate artificial intelligence into the fabric of daily life. These innovative devices, ranging from wearables like necklaces, rings, and wristbands to portable companions, are being developed to serve diverse functions, including enhancing productivity and offering emotional support. Notably, even industry giants like OpenAI are exploring the development of compact AI companion devices, signaling a significant shift towards more ubiquitous AI integration.

Among the notable entrants is **Bee**, an affordable pendant priced at $49.99. This versatile device can be clipped to clothing or worn as a fitness band, constantly recording ambient audio. By learning user routines and preferences, Bee intelligently generates reminders and notes, aiming to streamline daily tasks. It prioritizes user privacy with a dedicated mute button. Interaction with Bee occurs via a companion iOS app, available with a $19 monthly subscription, which provides conversational interaction, daily key takeaways, and chronological transcripts of conversations. Bee's market presence was further solidified by its acquisition by Amazon in July.

Another highly anticipated device is **Friend**, a white pendant worn around the neck and priced at $129. Friend positions itself as an emotional support companion, capable of recognizing the user's tone and mood. It facilitates natural conversation, much like interacting with a human friend, and connects to a smartphone via Bluetooth. Constantly listening, Friend is designed to offer proactive messages, such as good luck wishes before an interview. However, its pervasive listening capabilities have sparked controversy, including public backlash against its New York City subway ad campaign, which was vandalized with messages like “surveillance capitalism.”

**Limitless**, previously known as Rewind, is a conversation-recording pendant priced at $99. It continuously listens and, with user consent, transcribes meetings, calls, and general conversations. The collected information is then processed into searchable and summarized knowledge, making it an invaluable tool for professionals, particularly journalists, who need to accurately recall important discussions. The device's companion app offers 10 hours of AI features, including transcription and summaries, per month, with an option for unlimited features at $29 monthly.

**Omi**, priced at $89, offers a comprehensive suite of AI functions. It can answer questions, summarize conversations, create to-do lists, and assist with scheduling meetings. A key feature of Omi is its continuous listening, running conversations through ChatGPT to build context about the user, enabling it to offer personalized advice. Omi can be worn as a necklace, but uniquely, it can also be attached to the side of the head with medical tape, allowing it to detect when it is being directly addressed.

**Plaud’s NotePin**, at $159, is positioned as a premium note-taking solution. This tiny wearable voice recorder, which can be worn on the wrist or magnetically attached to clothing, offers built-in AI transcription and summarization. It is particularly beneficial for professionals such as lawyers and journalists, as well as students, who attend numerous meetings or lectures, as it saves recordings in real-time to a phone, eliminating manual note-taking. The device includes 300 free monthly transcription minutes, expandable to 1,200 minutes with the $8.33 per month Pro plan. This year, Plaud is also preparing to launch the $179 ultra-thin Note Pro, which is currently available for preorder.

The **Rabbit R1** is another AI gadget that has garnered significant attention in the tech world. Priced at $199, this small, retro-styled handheld device features a touchscreen and a rotating camera. It is designed as a phone-adjacent tool, enabling users to perform tasks like booking flights, ordering meals, and controlling apps without needing to access their primary smartphone. Despite initial launch challenges, a crucial software update has significantly improved its performance and expanded its AI capabilities. This includes the introduction of “Creations,” a feature that allows users to develop their own tools and even games, showcasing a greater degree of user customization and interaction.