Katarzyna Petru
In the market for voice-enabled devices, more and more gadgets are emerging to facilitate daily life – from companionship and 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 band, which ultimately made it to Amazon. Now, a completely new player joins the race – Stream, a smart ring created by former Meta employees.
“Mouse for Voice” – Stream Ring from Sandbar
The project is developed 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 you to record voice notes, use an AI assistant, and control music. The company describes it as an “mouse for voice” – 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, ensuring that the microphone remains off by default, providing privacy. A virtual demonstration of the device showed that the ring can capture even a whisper and automatically convert it into text in the mobile app.
Stream works with a dedicated app for iOS, where you can save notes, create task lists, and chat with the built-in AI chatbot. Furthermore, the assistant's voice can be partially personalized to sound similar to the user. In crowded places, the function can be used through headphones, and in silent mode, the ring notifies you of a note being recorded 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 especially useful when we have our hands full or are on the move.
The starting price for the ring is $249 for the silver version and $299 for the gold version, with shipping planned for summer 2026. For those who place a preorder, a three-month free trial of the Pro plan (then $10 per month) is available, offering unlimited notes, AI conversations, and early access to new features.
Full Control Over Data
Sandbar emphasizes 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 will be exportable, for example, to Notion.
The startup raised 13 million dollars in funding from True Ventures, Upfront Ventures, and Betaworks.
New Wave of Voice Devices
Although the AI hardware market is still shaping up, competition is increasing. Companies like Humane, Rabbit, and Friend are already testing their own approaches. Mina Fahmi emphasizes, 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-invasive 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 talk into headphones out loud where everyone can hear me. We wanted to create a way to capture a thought exactly at the moment 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 comfort and precision, the ring could become the new standard for interacting with voice assistants – more natural than a phone or AR glasses.
