생성형 AI를 비롯한 딥 러닝 기술의 발전으로 음성인식, 컴퓨터 비전과 같은 컴퓨터 센싱 기술이 고도화되고, 생성형 AI 혁신이 이끄는 AI 서비스 및 솔루션의 시장 진출이 본격화됨에 따라 관련 인공지능 하드웨어 디바이스 개발과 출시가 시작되고 있다.
[This article was pre-released on e4ds+ at 15:30 on December 22, 2023.] 
▲Personal computing, which started with the Apple Macintosh, has reached a point where it is evolving beyond smartphones into a new AI computing form factor.
Form factor diversification at every technological innovation point
Entering the 'On-Device AI' Era, Innovative Form Factors
AI Fin and Smart Ring Leading the Way in ‘Displayless’ Computing
With the advancement of deep learning technologies including generative AI, computer sensing technologies such as voice recognition and computer vision are becoming more advanced, and with the market entry of AI services and solutions led by generative AI innovation in full swing, the development and release of related AI hardware devices are beginning.
On-Device AI is a fresh, ultra-lightweight wearable form factor that does not follow the existing mobile form factor. AI technology innovation is driving form factor diversification and giving impetus to the emergence of new device types.
■ Device form factor evolves with each technological innovation .jpg)
▲'Macintosh', the first personal computer product developed by Apple
Form factor refers to the specifications of the hardware's appearance, size, and physical form.
Technological innovation and overlap are driving the development of new interfaces and appearances that were not possible with existing hardware, heralding the advent of next-generation form factors.
In the past, the personal computer era began with the development of semiconductor technology. The release of Apple's Macintosh marked the beginning of personal computers' penetration into offices and homes. Advanced tasks became possible by operating the keyboard and mouse.
The era of mobile computing began with the miniaturization and performance improvement of chips through the continuous miniaturization of semiconductor processes and the achievement of Moore's Law, as well as the emergence of wireless communication technologies. Smartphones and tablet PCs made computing possible in the palm of your hand, anytime, anywhere.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is now being superimposed on the hardware foundation built by the digital age led by computers and mobile devices. Generative AI, including super-large language models, and deep learning-based edge AI are driving innovation in device form factors.
■ The emergence of 'On-Deviece AI', find the AI-tailored form factor! 
▲Humain AI pin wearing appearance (Photo:Humain)
The AI device that has been a hot topic recently is Human's AI Pin. This ultra-light form factor device is equipped with an AI interface, emphasizing portability and usability.
AI Pin can mainly issue commands based on voice recognition. It also has a vision recognition camera that can perform UI functions by recognizing hand movements and projecting the screen onto hands or other reflective surfaces with a laser projector without a display. Humane adopted a Qualcomm processor with an AI engine.
Imran Chaudhry and Bethany Bongiorno, a husband and wife team of Apple designers, developed the AI Pin based on their experience focusing on user interfaces while developing Macs and iPhones at Apple.

▲Demonstration of the laser projector function of the Humane AI Pin (Photo: Humane)
The main body and battery are separated, and there are magnets on both sides so that you can attach a piece of cloth between them. Since the display consumes most of the battery power of a smartphone, AI pins without a display are expected to have high battery efficiency.
The weight of the AI pin body alone is 34g, and including the battery, it comes to around 50g. The battery has adopted technology that supplies power wirelessly, and Human emphasized that hot swapping, which is a minor but impossible function for smartphones, is possible without stopping the device.
The core of AI Pin appears to be the provision of related functions and services through ChatGPT access. Users and early adopters seem to expect to utilize AI assistants reminiscent of Jarvis from the movie 'Iron Man' using AI Pin.
Humane is receiving more attention as it is known that Microsoft, LG, SK Networks, and OpenAI have invested in it.
“AIfin embodies our vision to integrate AI into our everyday lives to enhance our capabilities,” said Imran Chaudhry and Bethany Bongiorno, co-founders of Humane. “We’re excited to finally share what we’ve been working on for the past four years, and AIfin is just the beginning.”
■ Wearable Ring, specialized in healthcare and voice recognition 
▲Aura Ring (Photo: Aura)
Oura's smart ring product is considered the only one to survive among the innovative wearable form factors. Excluding traditional wearable powerhouses such as smartwatches in the form of watches and wireless earphones like AirPods, among the innovative wearable form factors with unique shapes, only smart rings are still weak but are constantly releasing new products to the market.
Oura has released a product in collaboration with Gucci, while many startups have recently introduced smart ring products that won 2024 CES Innovation Awards.
△Movano Health △Senbiosys won the 2024 CES Innovation Awards for their healthcare-function smart ring products.
Smart rings focus on a single, sharp function rather than general-purpose functionality due to the limitations of their ultra-light form factor, and present specialized functions. The majority of services are mainly about providing analysis information through sleep data collection, heart rate and blood oxygen saturation, and activity data collection.

▲VTouch WHSP RING (Photo:
VTouch) In contrast, AI-based smart rings also debuted through innovation awards. VTouch won a 2024 CES Innovation Award for its smart ring product that implements an AI-based natural language interface that allows users to interact with the device in a conversational manner and perform functions.
VTouch emphasized that this type of screen-less computing is at the forefront of a paradigm shift, emphasizing that it can communicate with the WHSP RING while protecting privacy even in noisy environments through its 'whisper' technology.
A portable ring with integrated proximity sensors and AI voice recognition capabilities is expected to be launched via Kickstarter in 2024.