AI Wearables to Know: Muse Charm, Bee, Friend, Plaud and More

TechCrunch recently shared a roundup of the hottest AI wearables and gadgets, highlighting Muse Charm, Bee, Friend, and Plaud as some standout devices you should know about.

This list, published on October 25, 2026, explores a product category that’s quickly becoming crowded. Here’s a straightforward guide to what these gadgets do, how they’re different, and what to consider before making a purchase.

What counts as an AI wearable?

AI wearables are small devices you can clip on, hang around your neck, or wear on your wrist. They use artificial intelligence, which involves software trained on vast amounts of data to identify patterns and generate responses. Typically, these devices listen, transcribe, summarize, or answer questions.

You can think of them as tiny assistants that follow you around and take notes. Instead of reaching for your phone and launching an app, these gadgets handle tasks in the background.

The names on TechCrunch’s list

According to TechCrunch’s roundup, the highlights include Muse Charm, Bee, Friend, and Plaud, along with other devices. The summary doesn’t dive into specs or prices, so be sure to check the full article for more details on each product.

Bee

Bee is a wearable that captures conversations and turns them into summaries and reminders. Amazon announced its acquisition of the company in 2025, which adds a major retailer to the mix.

Friend

Friend is a pendant worn around your neck, designed as an AI companion. It listens to your environment and sends messages to your phone. This device focuses more on conversation than productivity.

Plaud

Plaud creates AI voice recorders. You press a button during a meeting or call, and the device generates a transcript and summary afterward. This approach is much more practical compared to a chatty pendant.

Muse Charm

Muse Charm also made TechCrunch’s list. We won’t detail its features here since the source summary doesn’t provide that information.

Wrist-worn options are part of the conversation too

Not every smart gadget is a pendant. Android Authority published a separate guide, 5 wearables you should buy instead of the Fitbit Edge. Their summary states that while the Edge looks appealing, it faces tough competition.

This matters because the wearable market now divides into two groups. One side features traditional fitness trackers and smartwatches. The other consists of newer AI-first devices that prioritize what you say and hear over tracking steps.

What This Means

So, what does this mean for you? If you often find yourself in meetings or calls, a device like a Plaud recorder makes sense. It saves you the hassle of typing notes. On the other hand, a pendant like Friend feels more experimental than practical.

There’s also a privacy angle to consider. Many of these gadgets come with always-on microphones, which means they keep listening to capture unplanned moments. Before you buy, make sure to check three things:

• Where recordings go: Are they stored on the device, your phone, or the company’s cloud?
• Who else is recorded: Laws about recording conversations vary by state and country. Friends or coworkers might not want to be recorded.
• What it costs over time: Some AI gadgets require a monthly subscription for transcription or summaries. Look at the total cost, not just the initial price.

Community Reactions

While the source material for this story didn’t include Reddit or YouTube comments, reactions to AI pendants and recorders have been mixed in public forums. We’ll add verified community responses as they come in.

What To Watch

• Amazon’s plans for Bee: Keep an eye on how the company integrates Bee’s technology into its own devices and services.
• Fitbit Edge comparisons: More hands-on reviews should reveal how it performs against the alternatives Android Authority mentions.
• AI assistants you can text: TechCrunch recently discussed AI agents you can message directly, which could rival dedicated gadgets if your phone can do the same job.
• Privacy rules: As more people wear microphones in public, expect increased discussions about consent and where recordings are stored.

The main question for buyers is straightforward: does this gadget do something your phone can’t? For now, the answer varies based on the device and your intended use.