The Leading AI-Powered Wearable Devices

After years in which the smartphone dominated the details of our daily lives, a new wave of small devices is trying to claim part of that role. The idea seems simple on the surface: a device you hang around your neck or wrap around your wrist, which listens to what is happening around you and then turns your words and conversations into organized notes, reminders and insights about your behavior. Between those marketing it as a rigorous productivity tool and those presenting it as an emotional companion that listens to you tirelessly, a new product category is taking shape that is hard to ignore — especially since companies as large as Amazon and Meta have entered the market, and OpenAI is also working on a companion device with built-in artificial intelligence.

How do these devices work?

Most of these products share a single operating logic: a microphone that runs continuously or on demand, a Bluetooth connection to the phone, and then audio processing in the cloud by large language models. The outputs differ according to each company's orientation:

• Speech-to-text transcription with searchable summaries of meetings and lectures.
• Automatic extraction of tasks and reminders from passing conversations.
• Analysis of behavioral patterns, communication style and emotions over the long term.
• Conversational interaction as a companion that responds to tone of voice and emotional state.

The productivity and note-taking category

Plaud NotePin is among the most expensive options at $159, but it is clearly aimed at lawyers, journalists and students. It is a small voice recorder worn on the wrist or attached magnetically to clothing, and it saves recordings to the phone in real time. It gives the user 300 minutes of transcription per month free, rising to 1,200 minutes with the paid plan at about $8.33 per month. The company is preparing to launch a slimmer device called the Plaud Note Pro at $179, available for pre-order.

Limitless, formerly known as Rewind, is a $99 pendant that records meetings and calls — after obtaining the consent of the parties involved — and turns them into searchable knowledge. The companion app includes 10 hours of AI features per month, with the option to unlock them without limits for $29 per month.

Omi, priced at $89, answers questions, summarizes conversations, builds task lists and helps organize appointments by passing what it hears to ChatGPT in order to build cumulative context about the user. What stands out about it is that it can be attached to the side of the head with a medical strip, and it can also recognize when the user is addressing it directly.

The entry of the big companies

In July 2025, Amazon acquired Bee, which had been selling a low-cost pendant priced at $49.99 that records what it hears and learns the user's routine in order to generate reminders and notes, with a mute button for privacy. Amazon has launched two new devices: Bee Frontier at $74.99, worn on the wrist or clipped to clothing, and Bee Eclipse at $99.99, the size of a bank card and attaching magnetically to the back of the phone. Both retain the same core functions with the ability to connect to the Alexa assistant, making Bee a cheaper alternative to Plaud's devices.

As for Meta, in September it unveiled its first wearable device dedicated to accessing its personal assistant Muse. The device is pocket-sized and can be attached to a keychain. It includes a miniature screen displaying an interactive digital character and relies on voice commands to carry out tasks. It has not yet begun shipping.

The emotional companion… and the privacy dilemma

Friend, priced at $129, represents the most controversial face of this category. It is a white pendant that recognizes tone of voice and mood and chats with the user like a friend, even sending proactive messages such as wishing them luck before a job interview. But its advertising campaign in the New York subway met with widespread rejection, and phrases such as "surveillance capitalism" were scrawled on the posters. The company later announced a major update called "Friend 2.0" that adds a built-in speaker and a more distinctive personality.

By contrast, Nirva — a company founded by former employees of Meta Reality Labs — takes a different approach focused on personal growth rather than productivity. The device is worn as a pendant or a bracelet, and it turns everyday experiences into a personal journal that helps the user understand their emotions, communication style and habits. The company plans to open orders in November and ship late in the year at a price of $249.

Beyond the wearables category

Rabbit R1 remains a special case: a small handheld device with a retro design, a touchscreen and a rotating camera, priced at $199. It was designed to complement the phone rather than replace it, allowing users to book rides, order food and control apps. It suffered performance problems at its initial launch before later software updates fixed them.

What is worth considering before buying

The common denominator among these devices is that they sell convenience in exchange for constant listening. Before choosing, it is therefore advisable to weigh three points: is the goal professional note-taking or self-tracking? What is the cost of the monthly subscription compared with the price of the device? And most importantly: what is the company's policy on storing and deleting recordings, and how will it handle the consent of the people speaking with you? The real value here is not measured by the size of the device, but by how much trust it deserves.

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