Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
In some quarters, the rise of artificial intelligence has sparked a desire to invent entirely new devices, which are deeply invested in that technology but look and function differently than any products we’ve had before.
These range from head-mounted XR devices, such as headphones and glasses, to Pins, Necklaces, Phone accessories And whatever Mysterious product Former Apple designer Jony Ive and OpenAI are developing in secret.
But what if, in pursuit of these new devices, we ignore the fact that the ultimate form factor for AI is something we all already have? Perhaps the best way to spread AI is through technology that dates back to the 19th century.
I’m talking about him Headphones.
There’s been no shortage of development in personal audio over the years, but incorporating artificial intelligence into headphones gives them a new lease of life, says Dino Bekis, vice president of wearables at chipmaker Qualcomm. We’re starting to see this with devices like Apple’s new one AirPods Pro 3.
Don’t miss any of our unbiased technical content and lab reviews. Add CNET As Google’s preferred source.
The impact of AI on headphones will be two-fold, says Bikis. First, it will build on the improvements we’ve already seen, like the ability to easily switch between active noise cancellation, transparency, and other listening modes.
Instead of this being something we need to control manually, the headphones themselves will handle all of that dynamically. Onboard sensors, layered with artificial intelligence, are becoming more adept at reading and understanding our immediate surroundings.
Bekis says that perhaps your headphones can alert you to someone trying to get your attention by recognizing your name being called, even if you’re listening to music with ANC enabled. If you’re on a call, or walking down a busy street, they may alert you to traffic hazards, sirens, or anyone who may be walking by.
But what really sees AI headsets come into their own is the interactions you’ll have with AI agents. These personal assistant-like versions of AI will work autonomously with our devices and services on our behalf.
He says there is no “more natural way” to interact with them than conversation, and the high-quality microphones and speakers in the headphones will allow for clear and effective communication.
“Earbuds or headphones are really yesterday’s technology that has suddenly been reinvented and has become the primary way we will communicate with customers moving forward,” says Bikis.
Learn about headphone makers and artificial intelligence
Not all headphones are about to become wearable AI assistants, and the situation is not the same across the board. Many legacy headphone companies “have their primary focus on sound quality and the capacity of the audio coils,” Beckes says.
Meanwhile, Harman-owned high-end audio brand Mark Levinson is one of the headphone makers that Qualcomm is working with to integrate AI into its products, Bekis says. And smartphone manufacturers that also have audio products in their lineup are at the forefront of this charge.
Just look at the new capabilities that Samsung, Google, and Apple have enhanced with their headphones over the past few years. In addition to adaptive audio, companies are starting to add AI-specific features. Google’s Pixel Buds 2 are designed not just as an audio device, but as one with the company’s Gemini AI assistant at its core (you can say “Hey, Google” to activate Gemini and ask it to summarize your emails, for example).
Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 come with new AI-powered Live Translation.
In September, Apple introduced AI-powered live translation with the AirPods Pro 3. The AirPods will analyze what someone says to you and play it in your chosen language in your ear. They will also capture your speech and translate it so you can show the other person text in their language on your phone screen.
Apple also appears to be looking for ways to further leverage the AI capabilities in its headphone lineup. A report from Bloomberg earlier this month suggested that the company may introduce AI-powered infrared cameras with the next version of the AirPods Pro, which can be activated via gestures and responded to.
Clearly, smartphone makers can see the potential for headphones to be more than just audio products, in the same way they once realized that a phone could be more than just a device for making calls. They may also turn headphones and earbuds into what I think may be the ultimate AI wearable.
Why headphones?
The biggest argument for headphones over other emerging AI-focused wearable tech is their popularity: Who doesn’t own at least one pair? (My feeling is that everyone should own at least one Three different styleseach with its own strengths.) It’s not the same for glasses or watches.
Yes, it’s common and familiar, but the likelihood is that if you don’t wear it regularly, the addition of AI is unlikely to convince you. Glasses, in particular, have drawbacks, including battery life. There is also the difficulty of combining technology with prescription lenses and privacy concerns due to the addition of cameras.
After more than a decade of effort, technology companies are also still struggling to make smart glasses as stylish and comfortable to wear as their non-smart counterparts. Meta Ray Ban This is probably the only exception to the rule here.)
At the same time, smart watches and fitness bracelets have become more convenient, but many people still find them cumbersome while sleeping. Their sensors are too far from our faces, where we receive the majority of our sensory input, to understand the world around us in forensic detail. They cannot transmit sensory feedback to us without us having to look at the screen. The same goes for rings and other smart jewelry.
No devices rival headphones, and earbuds in particular, for their proximity to a major sensory organ capable of inputting and outputting complex sensory data. It was and remains discreet, easy to turn on and off, and not overly power-hungry or demanding when it comes to charging frequency.
“Importantly, there is a level of social acceptance for this as well, with headphones eventually becoming incredibly popular,” says CCS Insight analyst Leo Gebe.
It doesn’t put a noticeable barrier between you and your world. Plus, even when they’re obvious, they don’t tend to put people on edge over fears their photo might be taken, and you don’t need to learn how to use them, Gibby says.
“Compare that to something like smart glasses, where I think there’s a whole new set of user behaviors that have to be learned in terms of exactly how to interact with that device,” he says. “Also, there’s a kind of social contract, which, for me, at least with smart glasses, has always been one of the biggest barriers.”
I’m still not convinced that smart glasses are an inevitable part of my future.
What’s more, headphones have been gradually getting smarter all this time without most of us even noticing.
This invisible development is the closest tangible expression I’ve seen to the widespread belief among technology leaders that AI should be a hidden, ambient force that permeates our lives as inconspicuously as possible.
Headphones are an established product that is showing consistent growth, making them the safest bet for companies that want as many people as possible to interact with AI through wearable technology.
Multiple forecasts, including from SNS from the inside and Mordor intelligenceIt is estimated that the global headphone market will grow to over $100 billion by the early 2030s. By contrast, Mordor predicts a smart glasses market It will grow to $18.4 billion In the same period, one of the highest estimates I’ve found.
Companies are always looking for new revenue streams, hence their intention to explore new types of AI devices, says Gibby. But, he adds, “Headphones certainly seem like a safer bet, because it’s the form factor that people are familiar with.”
There is probably no single wearable device that will define our coexistence with AI, and if there is one, it will be one of our choice.
But instead of reinventing the wheel, I strongly believe that companies that embrace the capabilities of headphones will see these previously audio-focused devices take flight in the age of AI. Maybe it’s just personal preference, but I agree with it.