Why Sandbar thinks it’s voice-enabled ring can avoid the AI hardware graveyard

Sandbar's Stream ring is designed as a push-to-talk device rather than an always-on AI assistant, emphasizing user control. The startup's co-founder and CEO, Mina Fahmi, discusses how this approach differs from previous voice hardware failures. Fahmi's experience at CTRL-labs, a neural interface startup acquired by Meta, influenced his focus on human-driven input. Sandbar chose to develop custom hardware instead of repurposing existing devices, a decision Fahmi describes as 'gruelingly painful.' The company aims to bring voice wearables into mainstream use beyond tech enthusiast circles.