Can we admit that AI devices just won’t be a thing?

It seems so logical; being able to take the infinite wisdom of ChatGPT and stuff it inside of a little trinket that you carry on your body. With a simple gesture, you have instant access to an AI assistant to perform tasks for you. It’s great… on paper. When put into words, having an AI assistant on you at all times sounds like what dreams are made of for the traveling busybody. However, the Nokia NGAGE also sounded nice when put into words. We have to admit that AI devices just aren’t going to be a thing.

We’ve seen a handful of devices, either launched or showcased, that aim to attach some sort of LLM to your body. There’s the Rabbit R1, the NotePin, the Friend Pendant, and we can’t forget about the captain of this sinking ship, the Humane AI Pin. They all have their own approach to bringing AI into the real world, and each one can actually be pretty great in its own way. So, why aren’t people buying them? Well, there are a few reasons.

There’s no fighting the smartphone

Some of these devices aim to do something that’s pretty inconceivable, they’re trying to disconnect you from your smartphone. The AI Pin seems like the best example of this. If you need a question answered, you don’t have to worry about digging your hand into your pocket, unlocking your phone, and finding the appropriate app. All you have to do is hold your finger on the Pin and ask the question. Ostensibly, it’s much more convenient than using your phone. Rather than finding the app and performing the function you need, the Pin will do everything for you.

But, here’s the thing, having to interact with your phone wasn’t an issue. People aren’t dreading the fact that they need to take out their phones. Sure, there are definitely those times when taking out a phone isn’t quite convenient. Maybe you’re in a rush, and you don’t feel like navigating apps and interacting with services. Maybe getting the answer you want is a two or three-step process.

However, this frustration doesn’t pervade the smartphone experience. The majority of the time, the process of using your phone is quick and intuitive. With innovations in biometric sensors, lock screen shortcuts, and the ability to customize your smartphone experience, using your smartphone is second nature. People aren’t going around and saying “Ugh! I’d love having a phone if I didn’t have to take it out of my pocket EVERY TIME I have to use it!!” The smartphone experience has been improved to the point where your phone is extremely easy to use.

So, there’s no need for a device to detach you from your phone. AI devices are supplying a market that has very little demand.

Just 20%?

Since Apple unveiled the iPhone back in 2007, companies have been working their selves to the bone to make the smartphone the all-around device that it is today. Nowadays, your smartphone is your phone, gaming console, camera, calendar, notetaker, computer, clock, calculator, television, photo editing desk, and more. MUCH more!

It’s to the point where a smartphone can provide everything that you could possibly need in a situation. Why in the world would we suddenly abandon that for a very specialized device that is only good at a few things? It’s like trading in your Windows computer for a device that only runs Photoshop.

Smartphones are just so versatile and useful that there’s not much of a reason to change up. Sure, the Rabbit R1 can perform some tasks for you like ordering your Uber and taking notes. However, it does a shortlist of tasks. Would you give up your phone for a device that does 20% of what your phone can do just because it can save you a few swipes? Devices like the AI Pin and the Rabbit R1 can’t replace your phones because they’re still trying to catch up to your phone in terms of utility. 

The smartphone has been honed and sharpened into a device that you can literally run your business out of. Android and iOS have advanced and grown into two fantastic and extremely intuitive operating systems. You can navigate them like a sailor to find what you’re looking for.

Experience, please?

This next point might seem like it’s taking shots at the companies making these devices, but it’s just a sad fact. The fact of the matter is that these are first-generation products being built by start-ups. Now, there are a great many start-ups that make some amazing devices that go on to live a long life.

However, that’s not always the case. These devices just aren’t living up to the level of performance that they need to because they lack some of the manufacturing polish that you would get from larger and more experienced and well-funded companies.

The AI Pin was rather slow to get the results that people asked for. Not only that, but the battery struggled to really last. Imagine if it was built by a company like Samsung or Apple. We’re talking about hardware-focused companies with decades of experience under their belt and billions of dollars to burn on R&D and manufacturing. Maybe the AI Pin could have a better chip, faster modem, or better battery.

Let’s also talk about the Rabbit R1. From a software standpoint, it bombed. This device was basically an Android phone running an app. As convenient as that was for cost savings, a larger and more experienced company would have been able to design an actual operating system for it rather than having to take shortcuts.

This isn’t to say “Big corporation good- small company bad!” More small companies and startups should deliver their devices and take their share of their respective markets. There are just some things that more money can facilitate.

Of course, there’s cost

Most likely, you can take your phone out of your pocket, download ChatGPT or Gemini, and use it…. for free. You have a free AI assistant on that device that can pretty much do everything that your AI device can. So, why spend extra money for a device that you don’t need? The AI Pin costs $600, and it has a $24/month subscription. The Rabbit R1 costs $200. You’ll be shelling out $169 for the NotePin.

While the latter two aren’t outrageous in price, they’re still pretty pricey for what you’re getting, a device that does what your phone already does. This is when the economy is in the shape that it’s in. Prices are going up across the board, so people are less likely to drop $200 on a first-gen device that can only do a few things.

Is there a chance?

We can’t say for sure that this technology will never take off. People had their doubts about the NGAGE, and now phones are basically mini PS3s sitting in our pockets. We initially mocked the smartwatch, and now millions of people have micro-computers on their wrists. Sometimes, the most revolutionary technologies require a renaissance in order to flourish. Heck, the concept of the smartphone existed more than a decade before Steve Jobs showed off the iPhone!

So, there’s no saying that the AI Pin 2 won’t spark this powder keg or that another company will come up with a revolutionary form factor. We’re just still at the starting line of our new AI journey, and it’s tough to know what will be the next big thing to push the technology deeper into the crevasses of our lives.

However, AI devices just have a lot going against them at the moment. Only time will tell how long before we have a ChatGPT-powered device running our lives.