Hardware startup Aina has released a smart ring featuring a screen, joystick, microphone and speaker, positioning the device as a controller for both AI agents and non-AI applications. The ring, priced at $399 during an early-bird pre-order period, is planned to start shipping in January 2027.
The startup, which raised $5.5 million in July, previously made Mirage, a three-key controller for Mac apps.
"Phones and laptop screens were designed for an age of browsing where you think about opening apps. For interacting with proactive agents, we need a better interface, and that is what we had in mind while designing Aina," Shankar told TechCrunch.
The ring allows users to take calls, see notifications, control music and smart home devices such as Apple TV, and dictate notes using Wispr Flow or Aina's own dictation engine. It supports gestures and includes a joystick for navigation.
Several smart rings already exist on the market, including Pebble Index 01, Sandbar Stream, Oasis and Natura, which is probably why Aina added additional controls and functionality.
Aina's launch comes as companies including OpenAI and Rabbit experiment with dedicated hardware for AI interaction. OpenAI has an experimental keyboard and Rabbit is positioning its device as an AI controller.
TechCrunch reporter Ivan Mehta, who tested the ring for several days, described it as feeling like a smartwatch in a ring format with more controls but noted that software and features are still being fleshed out.
After the early-bird period, the ring will cost $499.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The ring represents a new category of wearable designed specifically for AI agent interaction, moving beyond health tracking into productivity and device control.
- It could signal a shift from smartphone-centric computing to more distributed, wearable interfaces for managing multiple AI agents and smart home devices.
- At $399, it faces competition from both established smart rings and emerging dedicated AI hardware, testing whether consumers will invest in a specialized device for agent control.
Background
Smart rings have existed primarily for health tracking, but Aina's device targets AI agent control and notifications. The startup's previous product, Mirage, was a three-key controller for Mac apps. Competitors in the broader AI hardware space include OpenAI's experimental keyboard and Rabbit's device positioned as an AI controller.
What to Watch
- Whether the ring gains developer support for third-party agents and apps beyond Aina's own software.
- Shipping timeline and initial user feedback after January 2027.
- How it differentiates from existing smart rings and competing AI hardware as the market evolves.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedAina released a smart ring with a screen, joystick, microphone and speaker.TechCrunch: “Hardware startup Aina released a smart ring today that features a screen, a joystick, and a mic so that you can talk to your agents and take notes. The $399 ring has a speaker so you can take calls using it as well.”
- SupportedThe ring is intended as an interface for interacting with AI agents and smart devices.TechCrunch: “The startup, which raised $5.5 million in July , is positioning the ring as a controller of sorts for both AI and non-AI apps.”
- SupportedThe ring costs $399 during early-bird pre-orders and will cost $499 after that period.TechCrunch: “Aina’s ring goes on pre-order starting Thursday at early-bird pricing of $399, and the company plans to start shipping the device in January 2027. Once the early-bird period ends, the ring will cost $499.”
- SupportedThe company plans to start shipping the ring in January 2027.TechCrunch: “Aina’s ring goes on pre-order starting Thursday at early-bird pricing of $399, and the company plans to start shipping the device in January 2027.”
- SupportedAina raised $5.5 million in July.TechCrunch: “The startup, which raised $5.5 million in July , is positioning the ring as a controller of sorts for both AI and non-AI apps.”
- SupportedAina previously made Mirage, a three-key controller for Mac apps.TechCrunch: “The company previously made Mirage, a three-key controller that let you invoke buttons based on the app on your Mac’s screen.”
- SupportedApoorv Shankar said: “Phones and laptop screens were designed for an age of browsing where you think about opening apps. For interacting with proactive agents, we need a better interface, and that is what we had in mind while designing Aina,” and told TechCrunch over a call.TechCrunch: ““Phones and laptop screens were designed for an age of browsing where you think about opening apps. For interacting with proactive agents, we need a better interface, and that is what we had in mind while designing Aina,” Apoorv Shankar, Aina’s founder, told TechCrunch over a call.”
- SupportedThe ring can be used to take calls, see notifications, control music and smart-home devices such as Apple TV, and dictate notes using Wispr Flow or Aina’s own dictation engine.TechCrunch: “Using its mic, you can take notes, send a prompt to agents, set reminders, and dictate notes on your Mac using Wispr Flow or the startup’s own dictation engine.”
- SupportedThe ring supports gestures and has a joystick for navigation.TechCrunch: “For navigation, there is a joystick, and it also supports gestures, so that it can trigger different actions based on what’s on your Mac or phone’s screen.”
- SupportedOther smart rings include Pebble Index 01, Sandbar Stream, Oasis and Natura; Aina probably added more controls and functionality to stand out because similar rings already exist.TechCrunch: “Now, there are already smart rings in the market that do similar things, like the Pebble Index 01 , Sandbar Stream , Oasis , and Natura , which is probably why Aina has added more controls and functionality to stand out.”
- SupportedOpenAI and Rabbit are among the companies trying specialized hardware for AI interaction; OpenAI has an experimental keyboard and Rabbit is trying to position its device as a controller.TechCrunch: “This includes OpenAI’s experimental keyboard and Rabbit trying to position itself as a controller .”
- Partly supportedTechCrunch reporter Ivan Mehta tested the ring for several days, described it as feeling like a smartwatch in a ring format with more controls, and noted that its software and features are still being fleshed out.TechCrunch: “I have used the ring for a few days, and it feels like a smartwatch in a ring format with more controls.”
