Elissa Welle is a NYC-based AI reporter and is currently supported by the Tarbell Center for AI Journalism. She covers AI companies, policies, and products.

Another AI-powered wearable is coming to market. It’s not a pendant like Friend, nor a wristband like Amazon’s Bee. This time, it’s a smart ring called the Stream Ring from the company Sandbar founded by former employees of the neural interface startup CTRL-Labs that was acquired by Meta. Users can preorder the Stream Ring now for $249 for silver or $299 for gold, and it’s expected to ship to the US in the summer of 2026.

Stream Ring is designed to “capture thoughts in the moment” as a tool for “self extension,” the company says. Wearers can “whisper in a crowd” and the ring will record and transcribe their notes-to-self or conversations. From these recordings, Stream will create notes in the accompanying app, initially available on iOS. The dictaphone ring doubles as a music controller, but the company doesn’t elaborate on whether the product streams music or connects to music apps on the phone.

The product also interacts with the users with “through thoughtful questions and intelligent responses” through the personalized AI chatbot. The “Inner Voice” is actually designed to sound like the user; it’s based on the user’s own recorded voice during the product’s set up. (If you want to hear about a wearable that has its own rather strong personality, read The Verge’s coverage of the Friend necklace by Victoria Song.)

Images of Stream Ring show a sleek ring with a aluminium exterior and black resin band interior, all of which is water resistant, according to the company. A slightly elevated platform on the ring’s exterior houses an oval-shaped button, and small holes sit on either side.

Voice notes are captured by pressing the button to activate the microphone. The company assures users that the microphone is “not always listening” and that data is encrypted. Other features are controlled with capacitive touch sensors and haptics. For example, by tapping the ring once, you can interrupt a voice recording or start or pause music. Two taps move on to the next song, and a swipe gesture adjusts the volume.

Stream Ring’s charger is a small flat disc with a U-shaped holder that wraps around the side of the band. The battery life is listed as lasting “all day.” While Stream Ring can pair with headphones via Bluetooth, headphones are not required to use the product.

The free version of Stream has unlimited notes and chats. The Pro version unlocks unlimited interactions and early features. Users who preorder the product get a three-month pro subscription, which they can extend for $10 per month afterwards.

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• Elissa Welle