Meta Alums Unleash Stream Ring, Revolutionizing Voice Control

Former Meta employees Mina Fahmi and Kirak Hong have launched a startup called Sandbar, which has created a ring called Stream aimed at taking voice notes, interacting with AI assistants, and controlling music. The ring, described as a "mouse for voice," is the latest addition to a growing market of voice-based hardware devices designed for companionship, productivity, or personal growth. According to Fahmi, the idea for Stream was born out of his own experience with journaling apps, which he found became a barrier to capturing thoughts and ideas. "When large language models started emerging a few years ago, I built an experimental journaling app," Fahmi said. "However, I found that the app itself became a barrier to capturing my thoughts, and I wanted to create something that would allow me to interact with AI in a more seamless way." Fahmi and Hong, who previously worked on interface design at Meta, drew on their expertise to develop Stream. Fahmi has an extensive background in designing human-computer interfaces, having worked at Bryan Johnson's Kernel and smart glasses startup Magic Leap. Hong, Sandbar's CTO, worked at Google before joining CTRL-Labs, where the duo met. Meta acquired CTRL-Labs in 2019, and its work eventually led to neural interfaces for the tech giant's smart wearables. The Stream ring is designed to be a versatile device that can be used in various settings. It can take voice notes, interact with AI assistants, and control music playback. The ring's design is intended to be discreet and comfortable to wear, allowing users to access its features without drawing attention to themselves. The launch of Stream is part of a growing trend in voice-based hardware devices. Other companies, such as Plaud and Pocket, have developed card-shaped devices for similar purposes. Pendants from Friend, Limitless, and Taya, as well as a wristband from Bee (now part of Amazon), have also entered the market. Industry experts see the rise of voice-based hardware devices as a response to the increasing demand for more intuitive and seamless interactions with technology. "The development of voice-based hardware devices is a natural progression of the trend towards more conversational interfaces," said an industry analyst. "As AI technology continues to advance, we can expect to see more innovative applications of voice-based interfaces in various industries." Sandbar is currently focused on refining the Stream ring and gathering feedback from users. The company plans to continue developing its product and exploring new features and applications. As the market for voice-based hardware devices continues to grow, it will be interesting to see how companies like Sandbar and others in the industry evolve and adapt to changing user needs and technological advancements.