Brilliant Frames are my AI device of choice
Smart glasses, listening pins, handheld chatbot jukeboxes, AI comes in all flavors
This may be overstating things a bit, but it feels like we're at the dawn of a new wave of consumer electronic devices.
Our smart phones have gotten stale. Our computers are nearly the same as they were a decade ago. Where is the next area of innovation?
AI is the obvious answer. But really the question should be about what form our AI delivery will take. Will we wear pinned-on microphones or custom earbuds that listen and talk to us all day long without a screen? Will we have a handheld device that doesn't have a traditional operating system but instead a host of large language models for us to interact with? Or will we put on some sort of visor/glasses/headset on the way out the door so we can be presented with data right in front of our eyes whenever we need it?
Well, I think it will be a combination of these things but I'm probably most excited about relevant information being presented to me on a wearable screen right in front of my eyes. And of all the current options out there, the Brilliant Frame AI Glasses seem like the best execution.
I haven't tried the glasses out yet for myself but I'm very tempted to get my preorder in soon. What's so special about these? Why do they seem better than Meta and Rayban's smart glasses option? Let's take a closer look.
First, the design of these things looks almost like a regular pair of glasses. Yes, the frame style may be a little quirky, but they don't scream "I'm a smart glasses nerd!" when you first see them. They actually could pass as a standard eyewear choice and I equally love the black, gray, and clear frame options. I'd probably choose the black, but I can see any of them being very versatile.
They have a simple camera embedded in the center of the frame. Prescription lenses are no problem. The batteries inconspicuously fit on the end of the arms tucked behind your ear. And maybe my favorite feature is the charging cable that looks like a big orange nose that clips between the lenses. That is the type of playfulness that I want in my tech purchases! Not everything has to come in black or silver and be so serious! I love how elegant the frames look on their own, but it's amazing that they were able to have some fun with a clever charging solution.
So what can the frames actually do? They're powered by LLMs that can translate what is seen through the camera lens. You can use OpenAI and their custom Noa app to generate queries while on the go. Searches can happen seamlessly while you're going about your day without reaching for your phone or watch.
But the beauty here is that the frames are totally open-source. The Brilliant team is encouraging development of future features. In short, we're not exactly sure what the killer use case will be yet. They demonstrate getting nutrition information when you look at meal. Sure, that sounds cool if it's accurate. Personally, I'd love a subtle navigation feature in the corner of my lens to help me get around when biking, running, or walking. I'm sure there are tons of amazing game ideas that could come to life after playing around with the hardware for a while. It really seems like a totally open playing field to help figure out how this form factor will be useful.
I don't think I want to use the camera to take grainy photos all day like the Meta frames suggest. They even decided to omit a speaker to save some weight with the understanding that we all have bluetooth earbuds in our pockets at all times anyway. I’ll take that trade-off. Hell, I'd happily turn off the AI functionality for a majority of the day if I'm just sitting around at home. But to be able to easily turn it on when needed seems like a super power. This feels like something that many people would benefit from. And if the final production model is as svelte as the website photos indicate, it could really be a winner.
Of course, this is very new technology from a company that is just getting off the ground. Brilliant has created an initial prototype called Monacle which is essentially just one lens capable of many of the same things as the frames. So they have somewhat of a proof of concept here. But we know how hard it is to succeed in an established space let alone inventing a new one.
The basic frames will sell for $349 and you'll need to pony up an extra hundred bucks if you want the prescription lenses. And the details are still a little murky about ongoing subscription fees. It seems like there will be a free option with a daily data cap and you'll be able to pay for unlimited usage. I kinda like that approach especially for something new like this. And if the use case proves valuable, I think people will be willing to pay a small monthly fee. It feels like a better scenario than a required data subscription like the one being implemented by the Humane AI Pin. Rumors are that those initial sales are struggling, and I think that required subscription and additional phone number are a big reason why.
The Brilliant Frames should be shipping this month if all goes as planned. I'd prefer to see a few hands-on reviews before I ordered a pair for myself. I'm certainly tempted to take the leap though. This might be another topic for another day, but if they're able to allow FSA money for purchase like Rayban has been able to do for the Meta glasses, they could see an uptick in sales. Do I think it's ethical to use health funds on tech toys that happen to have prescription lenses? Hmm, it may seem odd now, but it will feel normal as this tech becomes more ubiquitous.
Anyone else ready to make glasses like these part of their daily lives? Do you prefer the handheld or audio-only AI devices? Or are you just staying out of this world until the products mature a bit?
Thanks for reading, I’ll see you next week!
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