What is Limitless Pendant, the world’s smallest AI wearable device?

Even as Humane AI’s AI Pin which claims to replace smartphones continues to attract brickbats from critics, there is a new AI wearable in town. In the era of the AI boom, a host of startups are innovating to bring out a worthy replacement for smartphones. Colorado-based software development company Limitless, one of the contenders, has introduced Limitless Pendant, a broach-like wearable AI device on April 15. Unlike Ai Pin and Rabbit R1, which assist with numerous daily activities, Limitless Pendant comes with a unique use case.

Limitless pendant is a coin-sized wearable device that lets you summarise and take notes of all audio accessible through its web app. The device comes with a 100-hour battery life and is equipped with multiple microphones to record high-quality audio even from crowded environments. The device uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to seamlessly sync.

In essence, Limitless is a multi-platform application that is available on the web, macOS, and Windows, and as a wearable device. It is powered by everything a user has seen, said, or heard. According to the CEO of the company, Dan Siroker, Limitless augments and replaces human intelligence with artificial intelligence to overcome the brain’s limitations, specifically memory and focus.

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The pendant is 31.9mm wide and 16mm thin, and is designed to be worn as a necklace or clipped onto clothing. Reportedly, the pendant’s power lies in its ability to seamlessly integrate with the user’s digital life, essentially acting as a personalised AI assistant that leverages the user’s past experiences, conversations, and observations to enhance their focus and productivity. Be it a crucial meeting, a casual conversation, or even while working on a project, the Limitless Pendant works as an assistant freeing the user from the cumbersome task of note-taking, action item tracking, and other administrative tasks.

What makes a Limitless Pendant different?

Perhaps, the most interesting and utilitarian feature is the real-time transcription and note-taking capabilities. As a user engages in a conversation, the pendant records and transcribes the conversation, then summarises it into key points which are concise notes that can be referenced later. This feature can be a lifesaver, especially during fast-paced meetings or discussions where it can be challenging to write down each detail.

The device moves beyond merely transcribing conversations as it can provide personalised meeting preparation, drawing from the user’s past experiences, feedback, and contextual information to offer tailored tips and insights. This essentially means that even before you step into a meeting, the user can get a comprehensive summary of relevant information and reminders about their own style of presentations and preferences. This is to ensure that the user is fully prepared to engage and make the most of the discussion.

What about privacy and security?

Since the device is recording conversations in real-time, apprehensions about user privacy are more than valid. Along with productivity, Limitless Pendant also addresses concerns about privacy and data security. The company has introduced a new feature – ‘Consent Mode’, which uses voice identification to record only the voices of those who have explicitly given their consent to be recorded. The company says that this feature is designed to respect the privacy of individuals involved and also to build trust and transparency in the technology.

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Another equally significant feature is the introduction of the ‘Confidential Cloud’ infrastructure which ensures that the user’s data remains secure and under their control, even when there are requests from employers and government agencies. This, according to the company, sets them apart from traditional cloud-based services, where users often end up sacrificing their personal information against convenience.

Pricing and availability

The Limitless Pendant comes at an introductory price of $99 (about Rs 8,280) and is designed to be accessible to a wide range of consumers. The company is also offering a Limitless Pro subscription with additional AI-powered features at $19 per (about Rs 1,590) month when billed annually. The Pro subscription offers a suite of advanced features such as the ability to generate personalised email drafts, delegate tasks to virtual agents, and access the company’s growing library of third-party applications that are built on the Limitless platform. The first production units of the Limitless Pendant are to be shipped in August this year. However, users can reserve their spot by visiting the Limitless website.

Besides, in his presentation, CEO Dan Siroker also shared the company’s expansion plans for its ecosystem beyond the pendant including native mobile apps for iOS and Android as well as integration with popular productivity tools.

Limitless Pendant vs Humane AI Pin

Compared to Humane AI Pin, Limitless Pendant is vastly different. Coincidentally, the product was announced a day after AI Pin was heavily criticised by industry experts and influencers. Contrary to AI Pin, the Limitless Pendant builds on its Limitless app to enrich meetings and video chats with the use of AI. On the surface, Limitless Pendant has a unique look and feel in contrast to Ai Pin’s comparatively bulky form factor.

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Unlike Ai Pin which comes with a host of features including a camera, Limitless Pendant just has microphones. It has a one-piece clip-style design that attaches to your collar, pockets and even as a necklace on a lanyard loop. The absence of a projector spells convenience without the user having to worry about how the information will be projected. On the pricing front, the AI Pin ships for $699 whereas the Limitless Pendant is at $99, a big leap in making the wearable AI tech more accessible.