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Javier Pastor
Senior WriterComputer scientist turned tech journalist. I've written about almost everything related to technology, but I specialize in hardware, operating systems and cryptocurrencies. I like writing about tech so much that I do it both for Xataka and Incognitosis, my personal blog.
Alba Mora
WriterAn established tech journalist, I entered the world of consumer tech by chance in 2018. In my writing and translating career, I've also covered a diverse range of topics, including entertainment, travel, science, and the economy.
OpenAI recently acquired former Apple designer Jony Ive’s company to work on a mysterious AI hardware device. Meanwhile, there’s growing interest in AI-enabled eyewear, as demonstrated by Google’s Project Atlas and its promising Android XR glasses. There are surely more similar developments to come.
LightSail. Dong Hongguang, a former Xiaomi employee and a long-time leader in the company’s customization efforts, has launched his own company called LightSail, or Guangfan Technology. The goal is to create an AI-enabled device. The company has successfully completed two modest funding rounds, raising a total of $18 million. It also has the backing of notable investors, including CATL, Afterhokz, Goertek, and GigaDevice.
A diverse team. LightSail boasts a promising team, having recruited former employees from major companies such as Xiaomi, Huawei, ByteDance, Alibaba, and Tencent. Team members bring expertise in areas such as operating systems, AI, and device integration. The support from these well-established tech partners is crucial, given that it provides LightSail with the necessary components to develop its future device.
AI agents. Analyst Rui Ma explains that the goal is to create a wearable device that integrates a general-purpose AI agent. Whether it’s a pendant or an AI Humane Pin-style clip, this hardware would enable constant voice interaction, allowing the AI agent to handle all sorts of questions and tasks.
The future is full of AI wearables. Companies like LightSail expect that, within about five years, wearables will evolve beyond specific tasks and become a comprehensive interface for interacting with AI models. Currently, the software components are still somewhat underdeveloped and lack the dynamic coordination and multimodal support necessary for these advancements.
Chinese AI-powered glasses. In the near term, AI-enabled glasses present the most promising products, with the Chinese market poised for explosive growth. There are five leading companies in augmented reality in China: Xreal, RayNeo, Rokid, Inmo, and Meizu. They’re consistently developing powerful new models at a rapid pace.
Challenging the dominance of smartphones. Several companies in the U.S. and China are developing hardware devices equipped with AI, signaling a potential shift away from traditional phones. However, products such as the Rabbit R1 and the Humane AI Pin haven’t lived up to expectations so far. Smartphones remain the leading devices in the AI experience.
Be cautious about your expectations. The failures of earlier AI hardware devices have left many skeptical about similar products. They promised an impressive performance that, in reality, didn’t materialize.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Ive recently made bold claims that what they’re developing will be “the coolest piece of technology that the world will have ever seen.” While we should give them the benefit of the doubt, according to analyst Ed Zitron, Altman and Ive’s past records aren’t encouraging.
Image | Humane
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