Aina’s $399 smart ring combines AI controls with calls and notifications

The hardware startup says the ring can record notes, send prompts to agents, set reminders and dictate text on a Mac through Wispr Flow or Aina’s own dictation engine. Its screen displays phone notifications and the apps being controlled; the speaker can be used for calls. Users can also navigate with the joystick or gestures, control music and operate smart-home devices such as Apple TV.

Aina is building on experience with Mirage, its earlier three-key controller for Mac apps. In Google Meet, for example, users could assign keys to toggle the camera or microphone, or leave a meeting. Aina raised $5.5 million in July and is pitching the ring as a controller for both AI and non-AI applications.

The reviewer, who tried the ring for a few days, described it as a smartwatch in ring form, with notifications, replies, meeting information and the ability to call an Uber. Using it to control Apple TV was less convenient than using the regular remote, though it helped when the remote was misplaced. The reviewer said some software and features remain in development, making it difficult to assess how the ring would fit into daily use.

Aina founder Apoorv Shankar told TechCrunch that phones and laptop screens were designed around browsing and opening apps, while interacting with proactive agents calls for a different interface. Other companies are also developing dedicated hardware for AI users, including OpenAI’s experimental keyboard and Rabbit’s effort to position its device as a controller.

Pre-orders open Thursday at an early-bird price of $399. Aina plans to start shipping in January 2027; after the early-bird period, the price will be $499.