Meta beat OpenAI to the punch on announcing an AI gadget (www.businessinsider.com)

Meta has announced the development of a new AI gadget called "Charm," which integrates its recently launched AI agent, Muse, into a compact device designed for voice interaction. CEO Mark Zuckerberg unveiled Charm at the company's Connect event, highlighting its potential availability for the holiday season. With Charm featuring a screen that displays "Jolly," Muse's mascot, it signifies Meta's ambition to establish itself as a key player in the hardware space, competing directly with OpenAI, which is also working on its own AI device following its acquisition of Apple's Jony Ive's startup. This move underscores Meta's strategic pivot toward hardware, aligning with its broader goal to enhance user engagement through proprietary devices. By facilitating direct interactions with its AI through hardware, Meta could unlock significant advantages beyond its existing advertising revenue model. Development of Charm is part of Meta’s new design lab, led by former Apple interface design chief Alan Dye, marking a concerted investment in transitioning from a software-centric approach to a more integrated hardware strategy in AI and machine learning.