what if the next shift in AI isn’t more software?
a quick look into the AI devices/hardware landscape
Hi friends,
Big tech wants AI to be integrated seamlessly in our lives.
So instead of just focusing on the software, the move is into the tangible, the physical hardware we wear, hold, and live with every day.
Why this matters
AI hardware is creeping into our daily lives in small, specific ways:
A ring that tells you to take a break
A recorder that summarises your conversation with your mum
A litter box that tracks your dog’s health
Although these devices may only appeal to the early adopters at the moment, they are early signs of how AI will gradually become more integrated into our environments, not just through our screens.
What’s already happening
The global wearable AI market hit $39 billion in 2024.
And it’s projected to grow to $260 billion by 2032.
The broader wearable tech market could reach $1.7 trillion by 2032
North America leads (~36% market share), but Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region
Here’s a snapshot of the landscape right now.
Productivity
Mobvoi TicNote: pocket device that attaches to your phone and captures voice notes, transcribes, and pulls key insights. Launched April 2025.
Plaud NotePin: A tiny device that clips onto your shirt or worn on the wrist and summarises conversations. Launched August 2024.
Health and Wellness
Apple Watch (Ultra 3) is rumoured to include AI coaching, blood pressure alerts, and potentially satellite texting and cameras by 2027.
Oura Ring, Whoop, and Ultrahuman rings interpret sleep, stress, and recovery using AI. Ultrahuman in particular is expanding in India and Southeast Asia.
Empatica EpiMonitor: FDA-cleared wearable for seizure detection
Fashion
Brilliant Labs Frame: the world’s first glasses featuring an integrated multimodal AI assistant.
Gentle Monster × Google: key partnership for AI smart eyewear with Android XR announced during I/O 2025.
Pets
PETKIT: smart litter box with real-time pet health insights.
Asia’s growing influence
Huawei leads the Chinese wearables market with over 37% market share in early 2025, especially with the Watch 5 series.
Xiaomi overtook Apple in Q1 2025 with a 19% global wearable band market share—selling 8.7 million units (up 44% YoY)
OPPO’s Air Glass 3 glasses, revealed at MWC 2024, taps into its AndesGPT AI assistant.
One of the clearest signals? The collaboration between OpenAI and Jony Ive, backed by SoftBank, to create a new category of AI-first consumer hardware.
It points to a future where AI doesn’t just do more. It should feel personal, useful, and integrated.
It’s a shift I’ll be paying close attention to.
What about you?
What’s one AI device that would actually make your daily life better?
Always open to learning more and hearing from you 😊
Thanks for reading!
Stay inspired,
Viv