Electronic Engineer

Ready or not, here come the AI gadgets, from "charms" to smart speakers. Technology companies are bringing a slew of artificial intelligence-powered gadgets to market - never mind the apocalyptic risks. The advent of generative AI, ushered in by the launch of ChatGPT in 2022, is now spawning a range of "intelligent" consumer products, from bag charms and smart speakers to digital work badges, that companies say will make people's lives easier. "The consumer AI revolution is just beginning," Dan Ives, partner and senior managing director of boutique investment bank Yorkville Ives, told CBS News. "Trillions of dollars being spent - that's why you're going to see more and more AI gadgets," he added. The race is on. Meta, with the metaverse seemingly in the rearview mirror, announced this week a handheld device powered by its Muse personal AI agent, while tech giants including Microsoft, OpenAI and Samsung have also introduced AI-powered products aimed at consumers. Read on to learn about just some of the AI gadgets that are either already commercially available or soon heading to a store near you. Plaud NotePin. The Plaud NotePin is a wearable device designed to record and transcribe meetings. The device, less than 2 inches long and less than 1 inch wide, can be pinned to clothing or worn as a necklace or wristband, according to the product description. The developer, San Francisco-based startup Plaud, unveiled an upgraded version of the product this year. Microsoft's "access badge" Microsoft launched its "access badge" this June, a portable device modeled after the conventional work badge. Equipped with a touchscreen, camera and audio recorder, the badge uses AI to help people with a range of workplace tasks, according to the company. The wearable device, equipped with fingerprint-based security, a side-facing camera, and audio-optimizing microphones, gives workers always-on access to their preferred AI agents, Microsoft says. Meta's Muse charm. Meta unveiled the Muse Charm on Wednesday, a pocket-sized keychain with a 2-inch display and two cameras. Some say the product resembles a Tamagotchi handheld digital pet. The device is powered by Meta's popular new Muse AI personal assistant, which can handle a variety of tasks, from decluttering your inbox to making a dinner reservation, according to Meta. Muse Charm is "always available to talk to you," CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in promoting the product at a company tech showcase. Ives, the tech analyst, said he expects Muse to be a "game changer," pointing to the millions of consumers who have downloaded the AI agent. Meta AI glasses. Meta is also incorporating Muse into its line of AI-enhanced eyewear. "Ask about a product on a shelf, a flier on a wall, or a long list of school supplies, and Muse can take action," Meta said in a blog post describing the new AI glasses. The company says it will offer more than 100 styles of AI glasses by year-end. Meta's specs, which include styles from popular sunglasses brands Ray-Ban and Oakley, have recently come under scrutiny after complaints that some owners were using the built-in cameras to film others without their consent. Meta has since announced that it will introduce camera-free AI sunglasses. OpenAI speaker. Bloomberg reported last month that OpenAI is launching a $300 smart speaker. Citing people familiar with the matter, the media outlet said the device will be "shaped like a doughnut that's roughly the size of a hockey puck." The product will enter a market dominated by Amazon Alexa and Google Home, two other AI-enabled voice assistants. Snap SPECS. Snap, the company behind the photo-messaging app Snapchat, recently hopped on the AI wearables trend with its SPECS augmented-reality glasses. The AI-powered glasses can pull up a city map, restaurant recommendations and other content directly in the lens, according to the company. Snap said the display system is like looking at a large computer monitor while you're working. Alain Sherter

Plaud plans to file IPO for AI note-taking startup in 2028. By PYMNTS | September 17, 2026 AI startup Plaud is reportedly planning to file for an initial public offering (IPO) in 2028. CEO Nathan Xu told The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) Thursday (Sept. 17) that the company will be ready for a U.S. public listing once its yearly revenue surpasses $1 billion. Plaud, incorporated in 2022, said it is aiming for $500 million in global sales this year amid rapid growth. The company has reached $100 million in annual recurring revenue and now serves more than 2.5 million users in more than 170 countries, the WSJ report said. Plaid designs artificial intelligence (AI)-powered note-taking devices and software. Its products include the Plaud Note, which can attach to a smartphone to record, transcribe and summarize phone conversations, the report added. "I find it always difficult to keep track of all the best ideas and also the details, which causes a lot of pain [when] you feel that you are not able to catch up," said Xu, an experience that inspired him to start the company. Please add us to your preferred sources list so our news, data and interviews show up in your feed. Thanks! Xu said the startup was valued at more than $1 billion as of 2025 and is currently "highly profitable." Plaud has about 300 employees in China and around 100 in San Francisco, plus operations in Europe, Japan and Southeast Asia and on Wednesday (Sept. 16) opened its new Asia-Pacific headquarters in Singapore, where its headcount has expanded to 100 employees from 10 in nine months, the WSJ said. As Plaud expands, Xu said a main priority is hiring the "best talent," a goal that is also guiding its acquisition strategy. The CEO said Plaud chiefly wants to acquire companies with robust talent that could help it build capabilities it can't create quickly enough on its own, instead of adding new users or products. PYMNTS wrote about the rise of AI note-taking technology last month, noting it has grown in popularity in the workplace as it seems to solve a problem. "People would rather participate in a conversation than spend 45 minutes typing minutes nobody will read," that report said. "The artificial intelligence tools can transcribe meetings, identify speakers, summarize decisions and extract follow-up tasks." However, the report also cites a Jackson Lewis analysis from attorneys Gregory C. Brown Jr. and Paul Y. Yim which argues that portable note-takers transform a productivity convenience into a potential workplace risk. "The device doesn't need the company's network, software or permission. It only needs to be within earshot," PYMNTS wrote.

Plaud, a maker of AI-powered voice-recording devices, has established its Asia-Pacific headquarters in Singapore. The company has committed to investing at least S$20 million ($16 million) in the region, double the amount it pledged earlier this year. The move signals Plaud's expansion strategy in the Asia-Pacific market as it scales its voice-recording technology business from its new Singapore base.