The AI Tamagotchis are coming
The Verge Hayden Field
Meta and OpenAI plan to try to bring AI into dedicated hardware by testing consumer interest using cutesy software agents. Over the next year, they will work toward physical AI devices after earlier dedicated attempts like the Friend and Humane AI Pin drew frustration and backlash. This shift moves their focus from phones and computers toward consumer-facing hardware, starting with software agents that gauge demand before deeper hardware commitments.
Why it matters
While AI has made plenty of inroads on people's phones and computers, it's largely failed in dedicated devices. But over the next year, two major AI companies, Meta and OpenAI, will attempt to change that. And they're apparently betting on a similar path: testing appetite for physical hardware with their cutesy software agents. "Hardware is […]