Tech
The Rise of AI Gadgets
By Frank Vizard
AI Assistant
If Alexa or Siri morphed into a mannequin head sitting on your kitchen counter, you can imagine Wehead. Its purpose is to facilitate more natural conversations between you and your AI assistant, and, oddly, it does. Instead of showing a face on one screen like a FaceTime call, Wehead parses the image among five carefully arranged screens atop a motorized neck. Wehead GPT tech facilitates real-time back-and-forth discussion with the video-real assistant, allowing users to vocalize ideas, receive meaningful feedback, and make eye contact. You can also use the device to project yourself, friends, and family during phone conversations. From $4,950, plus $200/month subscription. wehead.com
AI Fall Detector
One rising area of broad concern is the monitoring of seniors. A clever solution comes from French startup Zoe Care, which makes a plug-in fall detector. Zoe Care uses AI to analyze variations in home Wi-Fi signals to precisely identify a person’s movement and send alerts to a mobile app, eliminating the need for seniors to remember to wear monitors. Information is embedded on the device and the only output is an alert message to caregivers. The fall detector is expected to be available by the end of 2024 with a subscription of around $25–$30/month; zoe.care
AI Pet Health Monitor
The use of AI to monitor health and wellness isn’t just for humans. Minitailz Smart Pet Tracker uses AI to track biometric data in dogs to monitor cardio-pulmonary data, stress, aging, and pathologies collected from a wearable tag. Using GPS, the device also tracks locations and the daily activities of these pets, and the reports are presented to pet owners using conversational generative AI. Now you’ll know what that barking was all about. $100, plus subscription fees; petcare.invoxia.com
AI Phone
Among a range of new AI tech built into Samsung Galaxy mobile phones is the ability to break language barriers. Live Translate offers real-time voice and text translations of phone calls within a native app that keeps conversations private, and its Chat Assist feature suggests appropriate conversational tones across 13 supported languages and 17 dialects. Other AI features include Circle to Search, which allows you to draw a circle around anything on the phone’s screen and initiate a query for more information. The photo-enhancing Generative Edit function allows AI to fill in parts of an image background when a subject is moved from the original image, and the resulting image is reality-checked with a watermark, as is its metadata. Similarly, Instant Slo-Mo generates extra frames based on movements for a smoother, more detailed look. For text-based projects, Note Assist generates instant summaries and Transcript Assist transcribes, translates, and summarizes voice recordings. Users can disable the online processing of data for AI features, but be advised that not every bit of AI processing is done on the phone itself; some rely on connection to the cloud. From $800; samsung.com
AI TV
AI is mostly thought of in connection with communication tools, but when applied to televisions, it boosts overall picture quality. As exemplified by the Samsung Neo QLED 8K line, AI sharpens low-resolution content and corrects distortions of balls in sporting events, for example. Some improvements are more subtle, such as adding detail to fast-moving scenes to make them appear more lifelike and three-dimensional. Also included is an AI-driven dialogue booster that separates voices from mixed audio for better conversation comprehension. From $2,600; samsung.com
AI Camera
The Psync Camera Genie S camera uses AI to label objects and people within its view and then convert what it sees into a short description that can be sent as a text message alert. While a standard home security motion detection camera will note movement, the ViewSay feature, available via a monthly subscription, will send a more precise text like “a man in a green sweater is at your front door holding a box,” for example. High-resolution images are stored on the device and are keyword searchable. Genie S also has a speaker and microphone, which allows for walkie-talkie style communication from a smartphone app to kids or seniors in another room. The Genie S is cute in a WALL-E sort of way in that it folds up into a Rubik’s cube–sized box when not in use. $40; psynclabs.com
AI e-Bike
The navigational assists that AI offers to cyclists are apparent in a new e-bike from Urtopia. Riders can converse with an onboard AI to receive route guidance, descriptions of points of interest, coaching tips, and entertaining conversation thanks to ChatGPT connectivity. An intelligent ring monitors heart rate data to inform the e-bike’s motor assist system when extra assistance is required. Autonomous connectivity is embedded in the handlebar-mounted system so a smartphone isn’t required. The e-bike also receives over-the-air (OTA) software updates. From $1,500; newurtopia.com
AI Health Monitor
Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who’s the healthiest of them all? Like the fabled looking glass in the fairy tale Snow White, the NuraLogix Anura MagicMirror sees you. But instead of beauty, the standalone, 21.5-inch screen is interested in your health. After 30 seconds, using Transdermal Optical Imaging technology and AI processing to assess facial blood flow patterns, the mirror tracks over 100 health parameters—including high blood pressure and cardiac risks, diseases like diabetes, and mental health issues such as stress. The idea is to deploy MagicMirror at places like gyms and clinics for easy access. nuralogix.aiPhoto Credits: All Images Courtesy Listed Manufacturer
