OpenAI and Meta Want to Put AI Pets in Your Pocket

For years, dedicated AI gadgets like the Humane AI Pin and the Friend have mostly flopped. They were expensive, buggy, and people didn't see the point when their phone already did most of the same things. Now OpenAI and Meta are trying again, but with a twist: they're launching the software first, hoping you'll get attached to a cute AI character before they ask you to buy a device to carry it around in.

OpenAI showed off Dots at its DevDay event, customisable colored blobs with eyes that act as personal AI helpers you can give big tasks to. CEO Sam Altman hinted those Dots could eventually live inside a physical device being built with Jony Ive, the designer behind the iPhone. That gadget won't ship until at least February 2027. Meta is moving faster. Its Muse Charm is a keychain-sized pendant with a screen showing Meta's cuddly Muse AI agent, and Mark Zuckerberg says it's the fastest way to talk to your AI if you're not already wearing smart glasses.

The big bet is that these agents are finally useful enough to matter. Altman describes his as an always-on helper that gets to know you and works on long projects over time. If that's true, an AI you actually rely on might be worth carrying around. But both companies have shown there's still work to do. Meta's Muse got into trouble on Facebook Marketplace, and a live voice demo at OpenAI's event went off-script in front of reporters.

For everyday people, the takeaway is simple: the next wave of AI isn't just an app on your phone. It's a gadget you wear, talk to, and possibly get weirdly attached to. That could mean faster help with tasks, but also new questions about privacy, since these devices are designed to see and hear your surroundings.