Nothing, the London-based tech company, has announced a duo of refreshed earbuds, adding to its innovative product line. While the naming conventions might seem a tad perplexing at first glance, the Nothing Ear and Nothing Ear (a) each bring their own unique updates to the table.
The Nothing Ear takes the mantle from the previous iteration, Nothing Ear (2), while the Nothing Ear (a) serves as a spiritual successor to the Nothing Ear Stick. However, the real standout feature in this announcement is Nothing’s integration of ChatGPT, a generative AI program developed by OpenAI, directly into the earbuds.
This move by Nothing marks a significant step in the evolving landscape of AI-powered devices, particularly in the realm of “AI smartphones.” While competitors are vying for attention with devices like Humane’s Ai Pin (yikes on the reviews!) and the Rabbit R1, Nothing has seemingly leapfrogged ahead by seamlessly incorporating ChatGPT into their earbuds, and making it really…. simple.
Nothing Earbuds With ChatGPT: How it Works
If you have ChatGPT app installed on a smartphone connected to your earbuds, you can access the AI assistant with a simple pinch of the earbuds’ stem. This functionality mirrors the convenience of popular voice assistants like Siri, Google Assistant, or Alexa, but with direct access to OpenAI’s powerful platform.
In addition to this groundbreaking integration, Nothing promises to enhance the user experience on their smartphones with system-level entry points to ChatGPT, including features like screenshot sharing and Nothing-styled widgets, exclusively available for the new earbuds.
Both the Nothing Ear and Ear (a) are available for pre-order starting today. Priced reasonably at $149 and $99 respectively, these earbuds offer improved sound quality thanks to a new driver system. Additionally, the increased battery capacity provides up to 25% more battery life compared to their predecessors, ensuring extended usage on the go.
Furthermore, both models boast a “smart” active noise-canceling system that adapts to environmental noise and minimizes leakage between the buds and the ear canal for an immersive audio experience.
While the Ear (a) offers noise-canceling improvements, Nothing is particularly emphasizing its vibrant yellow colorway, departing from the conventional black and white aesthetic associated with their previous devices.
“By integrating ChatGPT with Nothing earbuds, including the new Nothing Ear and Ear (a), and with Nothing OS, we’ve taken our first steps towards change, and there’s more to come,” said Carl Pei, CEO and Co-Founder of Nothing. “As always, we look forward to feedback from our community.“
The Nothing Ear and Ear (a) start shipping April 22nd.
