Omi: The Wearable AI That Listens

CES 2025 has already delivered some ambitious AI gadgets, and Omi is one of the most intriguing. Developed by San Francisco-based startup Based Hardware, this $89 wearable AI assistant is designed to listen, summarize, and even anticipate your thoughts before you say them out loud.

The device can be worn as a necklace or attached to the forehead using medical tape. Once connected to a smartphone, Omi processes speech, detects subtle brain signals, and responds via its dedicated app. A simple “Hey Omi”command activates it, allowing users to ask questions, create to-do lists, and schedule meetings.

What sets Omi apart is its ability to analyze surrounding speech in real time. The AI can listen to conversations and provide users with context, summaries, or even suggested responses. Privacy, however, remains a key focus—conversations are stored locally or in the cloud, with an option to delete data instantly.

While Omi doesn’t actually read minds, the company claims it can detect when a user is thinking of addressing it, thanks to AI analyzing brain activity patterns. Based Hardware has also hinted at a future brain-interface module that could make this feature even more advanced.

The first consumer units are expected to ship in Q2 2025, but a developer version is already available for around $70. Whether Omi is the next evolution in AI-powered wearables or just another overhyped gadget remains to be seen—but it’s already shaping up to be a strong competitor to last year’s Friend AI necklace.