OmiGPT: An Affordable Wearable AI Device
The OmiGPT is an innovative wearable AI gadget powered by ChatGPT, offered at a price point of $89. This lightweight device can be comfortably worn on the wrist or around the neck. In contrast to other, more expensive AI wearables that have struggled with disappointing sales and negative reviews, this San Francisco-based startup is presenting a cost-effective alternative in the form of the OmiGPT.
Compact Design with Advanced Functionality
The OmiGPT is an open-source wireless device, roughly the size of a silver dollar, constructed from lightweight aluminum. It boasts 64GB of storage and connects to OpenAI’s ChatGPT through an API. This compact design allows users to maintain continuous access to ChatGPT, processing conversations and gathering data while online, and storing information locally when offline. The device is designed to be context-aware, utilizing sensors and AI to understand the user’s environment and interactions, thereby providing relevant responses.
A Cautious Approach to Market Entry
The journey toward a successful AI device has encountered numerous challenges, exemplified by the problematic launches of products like the Humane AI Pin and Rabbit’s R1. Nik Shevchenko, the creator of OmiGPT, is approaching the market with caution. Instead of rushing to release the product, his team is initially offering developer kits to ensure the device’s practical utility before targeting general consumers. “We’re doing it a bit differently. First, we’re only shipping developer kits,” Shevchenko stated. This strategy marks a significant departure from competitors who introduced their products to consumers without prior validation.
Market Trends in Wearable AI Technology
Wearable technology is rapidly evolving, with companies such as Meta, Rabbit, ByteDance, Cudis, and Limitless working on AI-enhanced devices that provide context-aware assistance. These gadgets aim to adapt to the wearer’s environment, behaviors, and activities to deliver tailored support. The Humane AI Pin, launched at $699 in November 2023 as a potential replacement for smartphones, faced significant technical issues and disappointing sales, leading to its discontinuation and subsequent acquisition by HP for $116 million in early 2025. Similarly, the Rabbit R1, priced at $199, faced a rocky launch but improved over time through software updates, although it still lagged behind mainstream devices.
Features and Future Plans
According to the Omi product page, the OmiGPT can capture conversations, set reminders, translate speech, and mimic the user’s tone. It offers both local and cloud storage, complete with privacy controls, and is open-source. The company plans to ship pre-orders in the second quarter of 2025. “We saw that ChatGPT has billions of users, so we thought, why not help make it better?” Shevchenko explained. “We connected our device directly to GPT. We didn’t even know it was possible—but it is.”
Technical Specifications and Connectivity
At the core of the OmiGPT is a compact system built around a custom-printed circuit board, which serves as the device’s brain, managing components like the microphone, rechargeable battery, power switch, and USB-C charging port. The lightweight, 3D-printed casing houses these parts. Notably, the OmiGPT lacks a speaker, eliminating concerns about privacy regarding ChatGPT’s responses. Although it can operate without an internet connection, users will experience the full range of its features only when it reconnects online. “It can still record without internet or your phone nearby, but you’ll only get real value once it reconnects,” Shevchenko clarified.
Focus on User-Centric Development
Shevchenko emphasized that the team is not pursuing immediate mass adoption but is instead dedicated to developing a product that users genuinely want. Looking ahead, the company is exploring the creation of AI-powered glasses akin to those developed by Meta, with aspirations for future advancements that could include brain-computer interface capabilities. “This might sound a little arrogant, but we’re building these products for ourselves,” Shevchenko remarked. “I started these companies because I genuinely want to use them. If others buy it, awesome—they get to experience it too. But that’s not our top priority.”
