The Titanium Aina Ring is designed to give users context-aware assistance through a connected Mac or iPhone. Rather than relying on a display, the ring’s onboard agent learns from data such as location, calendar and email, connects with services including Uber and Spotify through the Aina app, and suggests the next three actions a user may need.
Context-aware suggestions from a smart ring
The team considered other devices, including smart glasses and pendants, but ultimately decided that a ring would be the most convenient way to interact with the agent. For example, if a user typically goes running at 6 a.m., Aina could recognize the routine when the user puts on their running shoes and suggest resuming a podcast started the previous night or playing music. The ring’s joystick can also control music playback.
At 8:30 a.m., if the user usually takes an Uber to work, Aina could offer to arrange a ride. Selecting “Yes” on the ring would process the request immediately. If the user is running late for a Zoom meeting, Aina could ask whether they want to email their assistant to say they will be late. Shankar refers to these suggestions as “Aina Cues,” powered by the ring’s context-aware operating system.
Custom tasks and third-party AI agents
Many of these actions will likely depend on which apps and features are supported. However, Shankar says users will be able to create their own cues using natural language. For instance, a user could set a notification to remind them each morning at 8 a.m. to turn on a coffee machine.
If a preferred app or service does not work directly through Aina, users can connect another AI agent, such as Muse or Instinct. Aina would then handle tasks through the user’s virtual browser.
Visual confirmation for trust
Shankar says visual feedback is essential so users can confirm that an action has actually been completed. “Agents today are not responsive,” he says. “For us to trust these devices, to make sure that what I say actually happened, we need visual confirmation.”
Source: www.wired.com