Author | Lightning Editor | Duke Source | Taicai Finance

In the second half of 2024, the focus of generative AI seems to be shifting towards hardware. Firstly, ByteDance is accelerating its layout in the field of AI intelligent hardware. Recently, ByteDance released its first AI intelligent earbuds, Ola Friend, which integrates with Doubao's large language model and the Doubao app. This AI intelligent hardware serves as an exploration and attempt by ByteDance in AI scenarios, providing users with more direct assistance in various life situations through the Doubao large model. Secondly, Song Ziwui, known for her beauty and fame as a product manager, recently announced her departure from NIO.

Her reason was that she had been "always paying attention to the AI intelligent hardware sector and hoped to explore this imaginative new field." Both tech giants and insiders are converging on AI intelligent hardware due to its enormous development potential. According to the Global AI Wearable Market Report, the market size for AI wearable devices is expected to grow from $41.9 billion in 2024 to $120.7 billion in 2028, with a CAGR of 30.3%—and this is just for AI wearable devices. It can be said that AI intelligent hardware has great potential.

" 01 " A vast array of new products leads the way, showcasing the enormous potential of AI intelligent hardware

AI is undoubtedly a powerful and influential tool in today's era. With its astonishing computational power, efficient data processing speed, and evolving learning capabilities, AI profoundly impacts the development of various fields. AI is also an undeniably popular trend, visible in cutting-edge exploration in the tech sector, innovative transformations in the business world, and even subtle changes in daily life.

In this rapidly evolving landscape, effectively applying AI has become a central theme of our time. We see numerous powerful tech giants actively attempting to integrate AI with their core businesses, leveraging their vast resources and deep technological expertise. This approach enables tech giants to reinvent their traditional products, infusing them with new vitality and competitiveness.

Simultaneously, tech giants are meticulously planning for the future by expanding AI's application scenarios through the launch of new AI products—from intelligent transportation to smart healthcare, from smart homes to intelligent manufacturing, AI's reach continues to broaden. Notably, numerous dynamic startups are also exploring the boundless possibilities of AI.

They either integrate AI technology into product development to introduce innovative solutions or lead the way in downstream hardware innovation, unveiling disruptive, heavyweight products. These products not only achieve significant functional breakthroughs but also revolutionize user experiences. Among them, AI intelligent hardware, as a new competitive focus, is rapidly carving out a niche. With the combined efforts of tech giants and startups, we are witnessing an endless stream of new AI intelligent hardware products.

Take ByteDance's Ola Friend AI intelligent earbuds as an example, they are catching up with and even reshaping the trend of AI intelligent hardware. The Global AI Wearable Market Report, while predicting market performance, highlights that the primary trends, in addition to advancements in flexible display technology and sensor technology, focus on AI-driven wearable assistants. Clearly, the selling point of Ola Friend lies in its voice assistant powered by Doubao's large language model, offering various functions such as online travel consultation, English language tutoring, and music DJ capabilities.

Furthermore, from the current perspective, various AI-powered intelligent hardware has become a hot spot for major tech giants to compete for. For instance, Baidu's Little Duer recently launched its latest generation of learning tablet, Z30, the world's first learning device based on its Wenxin large language model. At this year's iFLYTEK earbuds new product launch event, iFLYTEK introduced three AI earbuds to enhance AI office capabilities. Among startups, new AI intelligent hardware products seem even more "bold" and creative. For example, Jike Tech, founded at the end of 2021, targets overseas outdoor professionals and develops consumer-grade wearable exoskeletons.

Earlier this year, specifically targeting hardcore outdoor enthusiasts, Jike Tech released the Hypershell X, an exoskeleton product designed for outdoor scenarios. With Jike Tech's self-developed AI system, Hypershell X supports seamless transition between nine different scenarios, including walking, running, hiking, and even cycling, without the need for buttons. Meanwhile, PLAUD NOTE is the world's first AI-powered voice recorder supported by ChatGPT and the first recording device to integrate dual-microphone engines.

Additionally, it offers speech-to-text transcription and ChatGPT support, including auto-summarization, meeting notes, to-do lists, and mind mapping, significantly enhancing efficiency. It is evident that new AI intelligent hardware products are emerging in various forms—some captivate with their stylish and eye-catching designs, others impress with their robust functionality, and still, others stand out through their unique user experiences. This positions AI intelligent hardware as a promising new growth point with enormous potential.

" 02 " The new frontier has arrived, and AI intelligent hardware is accelerating

AI intelligent hardware, with its unique charm and immense potential, is rapidly emerging as a powerful driving force for the sustained development of tech giants and startups.

For tech giants, the development of AI intelligent hardware presents new strategic opportunities. The battle for AI intelligent hardware has already begun, and tech giants are rushing to establish their positions. When AI technology is integrated with traditional products, it unleashes tremendous vitality and energy, making AI-driven transformation and upgrading a vital path for tech giants' future survival. Leveraging their strong technological capabilities, vast user bases, and abundant market resources, tech giants can establish a leading position in the field of AI intelligent hardware.

By continuously introducing innovative products and solutions, they can further consolidate their market position, expand their business scope, and achieve sustained development. For startups, AI intelligent hardware represents a promising field. "AI+" acts as a catalyst for emerging industries, and startups creating new products hold numerous possibilities. Startups can leverage their flexibility and innovation to find opportunities in niche markets for AI intelligent hardware.

They can focus on a specific domain or user group to develop products with differentiated competitive advantages. Through continuous innovation and breakthroughs, startups have the potential to rapidly rise in the field of AI intelligent hardware, driving industry development with their creativity and innovation. Simultaneously, the wave of AI democratization is encouraging more startups to join the AI intelligent hardware trend. Breakthroughs in generative AI technology, represented by ChatGPT and centered on large language models, are lowering the barrier for startups to access large-scale intelligent computing power, unleashing the potential for AI-driven product development. This promises to yield more AI intelligent hardware, making "anything possible."

With the democratization of development access, there is potential for creating more disruptive AI intelligent hardware that revolutionizes human life and workstyles and reshapes industry competition. Of course, it's essential to recognize that the development of AI intelligent hardware requires a gradual process of widespread user acceptance. For instance, as of 16:00 on October 12, sales of Ola Friend on Douyin's flagship store were just 800 units.

Clearly, this AI intelligent earbud is far from becoming a bestseller and has yet to generate widespread attention on social media platforms. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that AI intelligent hardware is relentlessly forging its own new frontier. Especially now, AI intelligent hardware is gradually transitioning from concept to reality, from the lab to the market, and from niche products to an integral part of everyday life for the masses.

Numerous AI intelligent hardware products not only possess the functionality of traditional hardware but also integrate advanced AI technology, enabling intelligent interaction, autonomous learning, and decision-making, thereby bringing unprecedented convenience and efficiency to users. Thus, AI intelligent hardware, with its boundless possibilities, is shaping the next trillion-dollar opportunity.