Forget smartwatches. According to TechCrunch's latest roundup, AI-powered pendants, rings, and wristbands are reshaping how the ultra-connected live their lives, and yes, your favorite celebrities are already getting early access.
The headline device is Friend, a $129 white pendant that listens to your every word, recognizes your mood, and acts as your emotional support AI. Friend 2.0 just added a voice feature, so it can now chat back with personality.
But Friend's NYC subway ads got vandalized with "surveillance capitalism" accusations. That's a sign that the celebrity set, and the public, aren't entirely comfortable with AI pendants that record everything.
Amazon jumped into the game too. Bee, which Amazon acquired in 2025, just launched the Bee Frontier ($74.99) and Bee Eclipse ($99.99). Both track your day, create reminders, and sync with Alexa. The appeal is affordability, gateway AI wearables for celebrities who want the tech without the premium price tag.
For Bollywood and Hollywood, AI wearables mean automatic logging of interviews, conversations, and chance encounters, then transcripts and summaries on demand. For A-listers managing multiple projects, endorsement deals, and public personas, this is useful. But it's also a privacy risk. One leaked transcript or off-the-record moment captured and misinterpreted could damage a career.
The tech industry is betting that celebrities and consumers will trade privacy for convenience and emotional support. OpenAI is developing its own AI companion device. What started as a niche gadget category is now backed by the biggest tech companies.
By 2027, having an AI wearable won't be a tech flex. It'll be expected. The question is whether Bollywood and Hollywood stars will lead adoption or wait for the privacy lawsuits to settle first.
