Aina has launched a smart ring with a screen, a joystick, and a microphone for interacting with AI agents. The device costs $399 and includes a speaker for taking calls.
The hardware setup
The startup, which secured $5.5 million in funding last July, describes the ring as a controller for both AI and standard applications. The company previously released Mirage, a three-button controller for Macs that mapped keys to screen functions. Users could trigger camera toggles, mute microphones, or end Google Meet calls from the device.
Aina applied lessons from Mirage to this new unit, which it calls the “AI ring.” The microphone allows users to send prompts to agents, set reminders, take notes, or dictate text to a Mac using Wispr Flow or Aina’s own engine.
Competing with existing rings
Other smart rings already exist, including the Pebble Index 01, Sandbar Stream, Oasis, and Natura. To differentiate itself, Aina added a speaker for calls and a display for phone notifications or app control status.
A joystick handles navigation while gesture support triggers actions based on the screen content of a Mac or phone. The device can also control music and smart home systems like Apple TV.
Hands-on testing
Testing the ring for several days revealed a smartwatch experience compressed into a ring form factor with added controls. Notifications appear, and replies are possible. The device surfaced scheduled meetings and allowed summoning an Uber for transport home.
Using the Apple TV remote directly remains easier, though the ring proved useful when the remote was misplaced. Much of the software and feature set is still under development, making it difficult to determine daily utility. The device targets people surrounded by digital hardware and AI applications.
“Phones and laptop screens were designed for an age of browsing where you think about opening apps. For interacting with proactive agents, we need a better interface, and that is what we had in mind while designing Aina,” said Apoorv Shankar, Aina’s founder.
Market context
Companies are releasing specialised hardware for programmers and AI enthusiasts to manage multiple agents. OpenAI has tested an experimental keyboard, while Rabbit aims to position its device as a controller. The strategy assumes enough users will run multiple agents to justify investing in specific hardware for monitoring them.
Availability
Pre-orders open Thursday at an early-bird price of $399. Standard pricing rises to $499 once the period ends. Shipping is scheduled for January 2027.
