Aina debuts a screen-equipped smart ring to control software and AI agents

Hardware startup Aina has launched a wearable dubbed the AI ring, which incorporates a screen, a joystick, a microphone, and a speaker. The device opened for pre-orders on Thursday at an early-bird price of $399, with standard retail pricing set to rise to $499 once that promotion ends. The company plans to begin shipping the rings in January 2027. [1]

The ring acts as a controller for both mobile and desktop setups, enabling wearers to issue prompts to autonomous agents, dictate notes, answer phone calls, and handle notifications. Users navigate software via gestures and an onboard joystick to control music or manage smart devices such as Apple TV, with the hardware adapting actions based on active applications across paired phones and Macs. [1][2]

Aina founder Apoorv Shankar argues that modern phone and computer screens are poorly suited for interacting with proactive AI agents. Aina joins a broader wave of hardware developers, including Rabbit and OpenAI, attempting to carve out dedicated physical devices for users who regularly operate multiple automated workflows. [1]