Topics
recent
AI
Amazon
Image Credits:Kimberly White for TechCrunch / Getty Images
Apps
Biotech & Health
clime
Image Credits:Kimberly White for TechCrunch / Getty Images
Cloud Computing
Commerce
Crypto
go-ahead
EVs
Fintech
Fundraising
Gadgets
Gaming
Government & Policy
computer hardware
Layoffs
Media & Entertainment
Meta
Microsoft
Privacy
Robotics
security measure
societal
Space
Startups
TikTok
Transportation
speculation
More from TechCrunch
Events
Startup Battlefield
StrictlyVC
Podcasts
Videos
Partner Content
TechCrunch Brand Studio
Crunchboard
Contact Us
Perplexity , the AI - powered search engine , want to get into hardware — kinda sorta .
Aravind Srinivas , Perplexity ’s laminitis and CEO , postedon X on Monday that he was think hit a “ simple , under $ 50 ” gimmick to “ reliably respond ” interrogative sentence “ interpreter to voice . ” He promised that Perplexity would “ definitely ” sell such a equipment if the post got more than 5,000 the like .
It did . “ Alright . LFG ! ” Srinivasreplied .
Alright . LFG!https://t.co / hMw3eugb0l
— Aravind Srinivas ( @AravSrinivas)November 26 , 2024
computer hardware is becoming something of an obsession among high - profile AI startups — in part because of its seal , but also because new AI - focused anatomy factors have the voltage to enable fresh kinds of interactions . Art generator Midjourneyformeda hardware team in August , and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recentlyconfirmedhe ’s working with old-fashioned - Apple design chieftain Jony I ve on an AI computer hardware project .
But computer hardware is severe .
Rabbit’sR1 , perhaps one of the most successful AI devices in recent geezerhood , is available inabundanceat steep discount on eBay . Rabbit claim to have sold around 130,000 building block as of June , but the inauguration has beenslowto deliver on many of thefeaturesit advertize out front of the R1 ’s launching .
Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Other AI machine venture have crashed and sting — Humane being the most extreme lesson . The inauguration touted its Ai Pin , a futuristic wearable gimmick , as a form of smartphone refilling . But thereviews were dreadful , sales were frail , and a rubber upshot forced Humane toissue recalls . Before long , Humane was on thehuntfor an acquirer .
Now Perplexity has a lot of cash in the bank — and it’ssaidto be close to raising around half a billion dollars . That ’s one ingredient for hardware success . But with chronicle as our guide , there ’s a lot else that has to go right if the company hopes to have a bang on its hand ( or at least invalidate a dud ) .
