News Summary

San Francisco-based startup Based Hardware has introduced a new AI wearable device named Omi at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The device, which can be worn as a necklace or attached to the head with a ‘brain interface,’ aims to enhance productivity by responding to user commands and summarizing interactions. Founder Nik Shevchenko, a Thiel fellow, initially marketed the device on Kickstarter as ‘Friend,’ but rebranded it to Omi after another company launched a similar product. The Omi device integrates GPT-4o technology to provide personalized assistance, remembering user context for tailored advice. It operates on an open-source platform, allowing users to manage data storage and developers to create custom applications, with over 250 apps already available. Priced at $89, Omi will be available to consumers in Q2 of 2025, with a developer version currently available for $70. The startup has raised approximately $700,000 and plans to seek additional funding post-launch.