Plaud Launches Smart Earbuds with an eSIM-Enabled Case to Connect with AI Agents

Note-taking has become one of the easiest AI applications companies can build, prompting device makers to cram microphones into nearly everything, from necklaces and rings to small bank-card-sized discs and bracelets. Despite this wide variety, only a handful of companies have managed to stand out in this crowded market.

A Prominent Player Enters a New Device Category

Among the names that have established a strong presence is Plaud, which says more than 2.5 million users rely on its hardware or software. The company decided to expand its lineup by launching a new note-taking device, but this time in the form of earbuds called Plaud One.

The earbuds feature a simple, elegant design that closely resembles Apple's AirPods, and they can record calls, while their case can be used to record in-person conversations and take notes. However, Plaud is not the first to head in this direction, as competing companies such as Viaim and Anker have already brought similar earbuds to market.

Betting on Software and AI

The company is betting on the strength of its software and AI capabilities to differentiate its product. After the earbuds transcribe a conversation into text, the company's AI agent takes over multiple tasks, as it can connect to popular tools such as:

Gmail email service
Google Calendar
Notion content management platform
Slack communication app

Through these connections, the agent can write follow-up messages and create documents or presentations based on the content of the conversation. However, this feature is not entirely unique, as software like Granola, Fathom, and Read AI has offered similar automation for some time.

An eSIM-Enabled Case Makes the Difference

The most notable element lies in the charging case, which supports an eSIM card—a feature that allows the user to issue commands to AI agents remotely without needing a phone or computer. This turns the case into a standalone interface for interacting with AI anywhere.

Technical Specifications and Battery Life

The Plaud One earbuds come with 12mm drivers and active noise cancellation. The company confirms that the case can clearly capture sounds within a range of up to five meters, while the earbuds record:

Six hours of in-person meetings on a single charge
Three hours of calls on a single charge
Up to 25 hours in total when combined with the case

Buyers get 300 minutes of free transcription per month, after which they must subscribe to additional plans starting at $8.33 per month when paid annually.

An Experimental Launch and Fierce Competition

This launch appears to be more of an exploratory experiment, as the earbuds will be released in limited quantities, perhaps to gauge demand for AI-oriented audio devices before fully committing to them. The company is also developing more advanced agentic capabilities expected to arrive in an update over the coming months, through a credit-based system where buyers receive $200 worth of credit to carry out tasks.

The company has achieved good results so far, announcing in June that it had reached a projected annual revenue of $100 million. But competition is fierce, with new note-taking devices appearing weekly from companies such as Anker, Comu, Viaim, and Y Combinator-backed Pocket.

A Permanent Interface for Interacting with AI

Nathan Hsu, the company's CEO, believes there should be an interface through which users talk to AI to summon it from anywhere, and that earbuds meet this need. He explained that AI requires a wearable device and an always-ready interface that is beloved, socially accepted, and distinctive in its design.

Nevertheless, the company may face a challenge in drawing users away from their usual earbuds such as AirPods, Google Pixel Buds, and Samsung Galaxy Buds, which perform the same task when paired with any note-taking app. The earbuds can now be pre-ordered for $249, with shipping set to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026.

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