"Rumor has it that OpenAI, the parent company of ChatGPT, is developing its first hardware and that the device will be a pair of earbuds. I generally don't care for AI-enabled earbuds, but I have a wishlist of yet-to-be-achieved features that would make them worthwhile. Also: You should probably clean your headphones ASAP (before it's too late and this happens) More on-device AI processing, integrated Wi-Fi for ecosystem independence, and smarter AI-powered noise-reduction algorithms are on my list. Hopefully, we'll all get lucky, and OpenAI will grant these features. Here's why they'd change my mind."
"Most earbuds with AI-powered assistants or translation features still outsource most of their processing, requiring a connected device to act. On-device processing would enable true device independence, allowing users to access lightweight models without needing a smartphone, tablet, or smartwatch to do all the thinking. Imagine if your Pixel Buds could summon Gemini without needing your Pixel smartphone nearby, or if your AirPods could translate someone's words and avoid the latency associated with transferring data from your AirPods to your iPhone and back. Generally, on-device processing would improve AI-powered transcription, translation, and noise-reduction features while preserving greater data privacy. If manufacturers want to shift earbuds from peripheral lifestyle devices to connected, intelligent devices, this is the way to go."
OpenAI is rumored to be building earbuds as its first hardware. Many current AI-enabled earbuds offload processing to a connected device, causing latency, reliance on a phone, and privacy exposure. On-device processing would allow lightweight models to run without a smartphone, improving transcription, translation, and noise reduction while preserving data privacy. Integrated Wi‑Fi would enable ecosystem independence but faces power and design challenges. Smarter AI-powered noise-reduction algorithms are needed to make earbuds truly intelligent rather than mere peripheral accessories. Delivering these features would transform earbuds into connected, standalone devices.
Read at ZDNET
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