Logitech CEO Hanneke Faber recently bluntly stated that most consumer-oriented AI devices currently on the market essentially “provide solutions to problems that don’t exist” and have not really found rigid needs. Farber said in an interview with Bloomberg that the current wave of AI hardware has not fulfilled the promises made in the publicity, and remains more at the conceptual level, lacking real usage scenarios that can impress the public.
This statement is quite unexpected, because she has also publicly called for the introduction of AI agents into every board meeting to improve decision-making efficiency and productivity.
Wearable AI devices such as the Humane Ai Pin, which had high hopes and even claimed to "replace smartphones": high selling prices and subscription fees, negative reputation, and limited practical functions, eventually crushed the startup. Its business was shut down, and the device was remotely "scrapped" after being acquired by HP.
Another topical product, Rabbit R1, relied on the vision of "helping users perform tasks across applications" to win tens of thousands of reservations. However, after its launch, it was severely criticized by reviewers due to poor experience, and the company was also exposed to the problem of arrears of employee salaries.
Despite the setbacks of early products, technology companies have not given up exploring AI hardware forms. OpenAI recently confirmed that it is working with former Apple chief designer Jony Ive to create the first AI device prototype, designed around the concept of "ambient intelligence", equipped with multiple cameras and microphones, and may display information on the real surface through small projections to distinguish it from traditional voice assistants.
According to the report, this project still faces many challenges in how to distance itself from existing devices and experiences. The design team has been looking for truly unique and useful ways of interaction.
The article emphasizes that Farber does not reject AI itself. She not only supports the introduction of AI agents in the boardroom, but also promotes the launch of a Logitech Signature AI Edition mouse equipped with additional buttons in 2024, which can call out the Logi AI Prompt Builder application based on ChatGPT with one click, embedding AI more naturally into daily productivity tools.
However, Farber has also attracted criticism from the outside world for proposing controversial business models such as "mouse as a service", which shows her radical side in business innovation, which is in sharp contrast to the current calm attitude towards the AI hardware bubble.