Ex-Meta Staff Debut AI Ring for Voice Notes & Music
▼ Summary
– Sandbar, founded by former Meta employees, has launched a voice-controlled ring called Stream designed for note-taking, AI interaction, and media control.
– The ring is worn on the index finger and captures thoughts via a touchpad-activated microphone, transcribing whispers into a companion app for privacy.
– Stream includes an AI chatbot for conversation and note organization, with features like pinch-to-zoom review and personalized assistant voice options.
– Priced from $249 to $299 with a Pro subscription, the ring offers haptic feedback, data encryption, and export capabilities to apps like Notion.
– Sandbar has raised $13 million in funding but faces competition in the AI hardware space, needing to prove its ring offers unique convenience over other devices.
A new wave of voice-activated gadgets is reshaping how we interact with technology, offering tools for everything from personal companionship to boosting daily productivity. The market now includes sleek card-shaped devices by Plaud and Pocket, elegant pendants from Friend, Limitless, and Taya, plus a smart wristband from Bee, which Amazon recently acquired. Joining this expanding field is Sandbar, a startup founded by two former Meta interface designers, which has just unveiled a wearable ring named Stream. Described by its creators as “a mouse for voice,” the ring enables users to take notes, communicate with an AI assistant, and manage their music effortlessly.
Sandbar’s leadership brings deep expertise in human-computer interaction. CEO Mina Fahmi previously contributed to Bryan Johnson’s Kernel and augmented reality firm Magic Leap, while CTO Kirak Hong honed his skills at Google and CTRL-Labs. The pair first collaborated at CTRL-Labs, which Meta purchased in 2019, and their joint work there influenced neural interface development for Meta’s wearable technology.
Fahmi recalls that several years ago, as large language models began gaining prominence, he developed an experimental journaling application. He soon realized, however, that the app itself interfered with the spontaneous process of capturing thoughts. Drawing on his hardware design background, he started imagining a conversational interface built into a physical device. “So many of my ideas surface while I’m walking or commuting, and I don’t want to disrupt the moment by pulling out my phone,” Fahmi explained. “I also don’t feel comfortable speaking my thoughts aloud for everyone to hear. Kirak and I asked ourselves how we could capture ideas the instant they arise, that’s the inspiration behind Stream.”
Designed to be worn on the index finger of the user’s dominant hand, the Stream ring incorporates built-in microphones and a touch-sensitive surface. During a virtual demonstration, Fahmi showed how pressing and holding the touchpad activates the microphone, which otherwise remains off, to record his whispered thoughts, which were then transcribed in the accompanying iOS app. Similar quiet-capture functionality is available through other applications like Wispr Flow and Willow.
The Stream app features an integrated AI chatbot that interacts with users as they record their ideas. These recordings can be organized into separate notes, which either the user or the AI can modify. A pinch-to-zoom gesture lets you zoom out and review conversations spanning days or weeks. Sandbar has even incorporated a personalization feature so the assistant’s voice bears a resemblance to the user’s own.
For private conversations in noisy environments, users can pair the ring with headphones. When headphones aren’t in use, the device provides haptic feedback to confirm a note has been saved, enabling discreet management of to-do lists, memos, or shopping items. Beyond its voice capabilities, the ring’s flat surface acts as a media remote, letting you play, pause, or skip tracks and adjust volume, a handy feature when your hands are full or you’re on the move.
Sandbar has started accepting pre-orders for Stream, with the silver model priced at $249 and a gold version at $299. Shipments are scheduled to begin next summer. A Pro subscription, included free for three months with pre-orders and then costing $10 monthly, provides unlimited chats and notes along with early access to upcoming features. Fahmi emphasized that users retain complete control over their data across all service tiers, with encryption applied both during storage and transmission. He also noted that Sandbar opposes closed ecosystems and intends to enable data exports to platforms such as Notion.
The startup has secured $13 million in funding from investors including True Ventures, Upfront Ventures, and Betaworks. Toni Schneider, a partner at True Ventures, admitted he was initially doubtful about AI hardware, having found earlier product demonstrations underwhelming. “Many agree that voice and AI are a natural match, and that using a phone or laptop for voice interaction can feel excessive,” Schneider said. “We expected a new type of device to emerge, but most options missed the mark. When Mina demonstrated Stream, everything clicked.”
Competition is intensifying in the voice-AI hardware sector, with numerous companies testing ring-shaped designs. Fahmi stressed that Stream is not intended as an assistant or companion, but as an interface that helps people articulate ideas while keeping them in charge. Broader adoption of AI hardware remains a challenge: Humane was acquired by HP, Rabbit is refining its user experience through software upgrades, and Friend is capitalizing on user feedback to spur growth. Sandbar must demonstrate that its ring delivers unique convenience and value that pendants, pins, and wristbands simply cannot match.
(Source: TechCrunch)
