Katarzyna Petru
On the market for voice-enabled devices, more and more gadgets are appearing that aim to facilitate everyday life – from companionship, through productivity, to personal development. So far, we have already seen, among others, cards from Plaud and Pocket, necklaces from Friend, Limitless, and Taya, as well as the Bee strap, which ultimately made it to Amazon. Now, a completely new player joins the race – Stream, an intelligent ring created by former Meta employees.
"Voice Mouse" – the Stream ring from ChooseTV
The project is backed by the startup Sandbar, founded by Mina Fahmi and Kirak Hong – specialists who previously worked on user interfaces at Meta, Google, and Magic Leap. Their new product, Stream, is a ring that allows users to record voice notes, utilise an AI assistant, and control music. The company describes it as a "voice mouse" – a minimalist device that shifts interaction with AI from the screen to gesture and speech.
Intuitive operation and privacy
Stream is worn on the index finger of the dominant hand. The built-in microphones and touch panel activate only when pressed – this keeps the microphone turned off by default, ensuring privacy. A virtual demonstration of the device showed that the ring can pick up even a whisper and automatically convert it into text in the mobile application.
Stream works with a dedicated app for iOS, where users can save notes, create task lists, and chat with the built-in AI chatbot. Furthermore, the assistant's voice can be partially personalised to sound similar to the user. In crowded places, the functionality can be used through headphones, and in silent mode, the ring notifies the user of note registration with a light vibration.
Music Control and Premium Features
In addition to voice functions, Stream also allows for media control – play, pause, skip tracks, and adjust volume. This is particularly useful when our hands are full or we are on the go.
The prices for the ring start at $249 for the silver version and $299 for the gold, with shipping planned for summer 2026. For those who place a preorder, a three-month free access to the Pro plan is offered (after which it will be $10 per month), providing unlimited notes, conversations with AI, and early access to new features.
Full control over data
Sandbar emphasises that users have full control over their data – all information is encrypted both at rest and during transmission. The company does not intend to create a closed ecosystem – data can be exported to, for example, Notion.
The startup has raised 13 million dollars in funding from True Ventures, Upfront Ventures, and Betaworks.
New wave of voice devices
Although the AI equipment market is still taking shape, competition is increasing. Companies such as Humane, Rabbit, and Friend are already testing their own approaches. Mina Fahmi emphasises, however, that Stream is not meant to be an “assistant” or “companion”, but rather a tool for freely expressing thoughts and ideas in a natural and non-intrusive way.
As Fahmi says: “Most of my ideas come to me when I'm walking or commuting to work. I don’t want to pull out my phone or speak into headphones out loud where everyone can hear me. We wanted to create a way to capture a thought exactly when it appears. That’s how Stream was born.”
Stream is a bold attempt to combine minimalism, privacy, and AI in the form of a wearable device. If Sandbar actually delivers the promised convenience and precision, the ring could become the new standard of interaction with voice assistants – more natural than a phone or AR glasses.
