A New York-based startup, Sandbar, founded by Mina Fahmy and Kierk Hong, has launched a new device called the Stream Ring. This ring is designed to make self-expression easier and more personal.
The Stream Ring is worn on the index finger. When you have an idea to save or want to quickly find information, you bring your hand to your lips and start speaking. After pressing the small touch panel, which resembles a walkie-talkie, the voice recording is sent to an app on your wireless earbuds. The ring vibrates to confirm it has heard you.
A key feature of the Stream Ring is its artificial intelligence, which is modeled on the owner's voice. After a short recording, the system creates a voice clone that is approximately 80% similar to the original, allowing for an internal dialogue.
The device also performs practical functions, such as controlling music, muting audio, and taking notes through simple gestures. Rather than marketing the ring as an "AI companion," Sandbar targets creative and reflective users who value self-awareness.
The ring is available in silver ($249) and gold ($299), with a black resin inlay. It will begin shipping to customers in the summer of 2026.
"Users can interrupt or correct the AI in mid-sentence, which enhances the feeling of control and makes it seem more like an extension of the self than a separate assistant. What particularly distinguishes the Stream Ring is its AI voice, designed to resemble its owner's. In a pessimistic outlook, people might retreat into conversations with 'themselves' when dealing with AI, thereby losing human connection. In a more optimistic view, the Stream Ring becomes a tool for self-understanding, enabling deeper thinking and emotional awareness. All you have to do is wear it on your index finger, raise it to your lips when you want to save a fleeting idea or look up a quick recipe, and then press it to record. It then responds in your earbuds, saving the answer to the accompanying app."
