Will the Limitless AI pendant disrupt the workplace or just your privacy?

While software has been the main focus of the generative AI revolution, we’re slowly seeing a creep of hardware enter the mix. The newest kid on the block is the Limitless AI Pendant, aiming to join the ranks of devices aimed at boosting productivity in professional settings. But it could also be a privacy nightmare.

And the announcement is certainly well-timed, with the first – and largely negative – reviews of the Humane AI pin dropping just last week.

Limitless wants to know everything about you

Limitless is somewhat of an evolution of CEO Dan Siroker’s last AI product: Rewind.ai. This was a computer app that recorded everything that happened on your screen. Everything. That included keys typed, things searched, songs listened to. The list goes on.

The idea was to be able to comb that data in order to provide a more personalised ChatGPT-esque experience. Another way to look at it is a dystopian nightmare.

Originally the Limitless Pendant was called the Rewind, but has since been rebranded. And instead of just collecting data from your computer, it’s deployed in the 3D.

But the Limitless AI pendant seems to be specifically targeting businesses and workplace users, at least for now, positioning the device as an assistant for managing and documenting meetings.

The company also claims that the pendant integrates seamlessly with existing business tools such as Zoom, Google Meet, and Slack – allowing users to adopt the Pendant without the need for additional software installations.

Limitless AI aims to embed its functionality within tools that users already employ, which could facilitate smoother interactions and utility but also raises questions about the depth of integration and whether it could lead to potential dependencies or vulnerabilities in software ecosystems.

A core feature of the Pendant is its focus on enhancing meeting efficiency through AI-driven transcription and summarisation capabilities. The device is designed to aid in meeting preparation, capturing transcripts, and providing summaries, which could theoretically enhance understanding and recall of discussions.

But it does seem that Siroker may have a similar vision for Limitless as he did for Rewind. In an interview with The Verge, he said in the future there are plans for AI agents to be able to complete tasks for the user because it will know everything about you.

This could raise some red flags in a business context, particularly when it comes to sensitive information. However according to Limitless, your data is protected from both your employer and the government.

“If we were given a subpoena to hand over customer data it would be useless because it is undecryptable,” the website reads.

The pendant also includes a ‘Consent Mode’, which requires new voices to consent to recording before being captured. The company assures that all data is anonymised and securely stored, with recordings being deleted after 30 days.

Still, as a business, you’d probably want to ensure that the guardrails around the device and its software were iron-clad before you gave it permission to record everything on and off your workplace devices.

The design isn’t particularly subtle

While the design of the Pendant isn’t terrible, it does appear to suffer the same curse as other wearables (AI or otherwise) in the market – it’s overt.

In my decade-long experience in the consumer tech space, very few companies have actually succeeded at creating a subtle and chic wearable that doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb.

In the case of the Limitless AI Pendant, it is reminiscent of a gym key fob that can be worn around the neck or attached to a shirt collar or pocket. Built to be robust and weatherproof, it also features a magnetic clasp to ensure it stays in place, and an LED indicator lights up when the device is recording.

It’s certainly less bulky than the Humane AI pin, but it sure is there. But perhaps that’s not entirely negative in a business context, or any other, considering that it’s a device designed to record.

Do businesses need the Limitless AI Pendant?

As with any new technology, the proof will be in widespread adoption and the practical utility observed by those integrating the Pendant into their daily routines.

With its focus on business, the Limitless AI Pendant represents an interesting development in the niche of workplace AI solutions, aiming to carve out a space by addressing specific needs.

But one has to wonder whether such devices are necessary when we already have a plethora of daily devices already at our disposal.

Not to mention that the competitive landscape already includes numerous software-based AI tools aiming to optimise workplace efficiency — and they already integrate into those existing devices.

The success of the Limitless AI Pendant will largely depend on its ability to genuinely enhance workflows and productivity — not merely add to the clutter of daily tech interactions.

It will also need to further address privacy concerns. While it reassures workers that employers won’t be able to access their data, concerns may still arise — particularly in a landscape where keystroke loggers and desktop monitoring are utilised by some businesses to monitor their staff.

The Limitless AI Pendant will be shipping in August and will cost US$99, plus US$19 per month for the monthly Pro subscription. It’s unclear if and when it will be readily available in Australia.