Presented as a titanium smart ring, the Aina Ring connects to Macs and iPhones. Its built-in assistant constantly searches for the three things the user will need next.
- The Aina Ring is a titanium smart ring that connects to Macs and iPhones.
- Its built-in assistant learns the user’s routines and suggests actions before they are needed.
- Users can connect third-party AI agents, which carry out tasks through virtual browsers.
- The on-screen display confirms that each action has actually been completed.
Before settling on the ring, the team explored other objects, such as smart glasses or pendants. They ultimately judged that the ring was the most convenient way to interact with agents, those programs capable of performing tasks on the user’s behalf.
To offer these actions, the assistant learns the user’s routines from their personal data, such as location, calendar, and emails. It also relies on third-party services connected in the Aina app, like Uber or Spotify.
Suggestions tailored to habits
If you usually run at 6 a.m., the ring can suggest resuming the podcast started the day before or starting music as soon as you put on your running shoes. Its joystick also serves as a music playback control.
If you typically take an Uber at 8:30 a.m. to go to work, the ring suggests the ride. You just have to answer “yes” on the ring, and the task is executed immediately. If you’re late for a Zoom meeting, Aina asks if you want the assistant to send an email to notify of your delay.
Shankar calls these suggestions “Aina Cues”. They rely on the ring’s Context Aware Operating System. However, many actions will depend on the supported applications and functions. Users can also create their own Cues in natural language: for example, being prompted every morning at 8 a.m. to turn on the coffee maker.
Third-party agents and on-screen confirmation
If a preferred application doesn’t work with Aina, it’s possible to connect the AI agent of your choice to the ring, such as Muse or Instinct. These agents then perform the task via virtual browsers.
The display plays a central role, as it allows the user to know if an action has been successful. “Agents today don’t respond immediately,” says Shankar. “For us to trust these devices, to be sure that what I said actually just happened, we need on-screen confirmation.”
