Founded by Nik Shevchenko, a Thiel fellow known for eye-catching stunts, Based Hardware has raised approximately $700,000, spending $150,000 on promotional videos. Shevchenko emphasizes that the user base is crucial for the product's success, as the open-source nature of Omi relies on widespread adoption. Despite privacy concerns, the startup aims to differentiate Omi from other AI devices by focusing on its role as a productivity enhancer rather than a smartphone replacement. The effectiveness of Omi's "brain interface" remains uncertain, but Shevchenko demonstrated its potential by interacting with the device without using wake words.
Key takeaways:
- San Francisco startup Based Hardware launched a new AI wearable called Omi, designed to boost productivity, at the Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas.
- Omi can be worn as a necklace or attached to the side of the head, using a "brain interface" to understand when users are talking to it, and it is built on an open-source platform for privacy and customization.
- The device costs $89 for consumers and $70 for developers, with features like answering questions, summarizing conversations, and creating to-do lists, leveraging GPT-4o for personalized advice.
- Based Hardware has raised $700,000, spending $150,000 on promotional videos, and aims to expand its user base to enhance the product's open-source platform.