AI devices are just "solutions looking for a problem," says Logitech CEO

[midian182]

Big quote: As AI appears in virtually every piece of software out there, more companies are now looking toward AI-focused devices. But one of those won't be Logitech, whose CEO has called these AI gadgets solutions for problems that don't exist.

Logitech CEO Hanneke Faber isn't a fan of current AI hardware, which comes as something of a surprise from the person who last month called for AI agents to be present in every board meeting, claiming they could improve productivity.

Faber, who marked her two-year anniversary as Logitech CEO this week, told Bloomberg that AI hardware fails to live up to its hype. "What's out there is a solution looking for a problem that doesn't exist," she said.

AI-focused consumer hardware has failed to find the sort of success that chatbots enjoy. The most obvious example is the Humane Ai Pin wearable. There was so much hype before its launch that the creators talked about it replacing smartphones. But the $700, $24-per-month subscription fee, scathing reviews, and the fact it didn't really do much saw Humane shut down the business and brick the Ai Pins after being bought by HP.

What was the problem the AI Pin was trying to solve? Not enough e-waste?

Then there was the Rabbit R1. Its promise of being able to perform and complete tasks on behalf of users, interacting with apps in a natural way just like a human, led to 10,000 pre-order sales. As was the case with the Ai Pin, reviewers slammed the Rabbit R1 – Marques Brownlee called it "barely reviewable." It was reported in November that some Rabbit employees haven't been paid in months.

Despite these failings, it seems that companies haven't given up on consumer AI hardware. OpenAI last month confirmed it had just built its first AI hardware prototype with ex-Apple designer Jony Ive.

The device is built around the concept of ambient intelligence. It is equipped with multiple cameras and microphones, and may use a small projector to display information on surfaces. Ive and OpenAI reportedly struggled with the design of their device as they looked to differentiate it from digital assistants such as Siri.

Faber is far from anti-AI. In addition to her calls for AI board members, she oversaw the launch of the Logitech Signature AI Edition Mouse in 2024, which has an extra button that launches the ChatGPT-powered Logi AI Prompt Builder app.

While not AI-related, Faber has faced a lot of criticism for her controversial mouse-as-a-service proposal last year.

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AI devices are just "solutions looking for a problem," says Logitech CEO

 

[Lowhangingfruit]

I can't wait for AI powered refrigerators. I'm sure Samsung is working on it. Their fridges are more software than hardware at this point.

The refrigerator will call you as you're driving back from work "Don't forget to buy some milk. I see Safeway has the lowest price at this moment. Or would you rather I order from Amazon for you."

What an incredible future. /s

 

[VariableSpike]

I can't wait for AI powered refrigerators. I'm sure Samsung is working on it. Their fridges are more software than hardware at this point.

The refrigerator will call you as you're driving back from work "Don't forget to buy some milk. I see Safeway has the lowest price at this moment. Or would you rather I order from Amazon for you."

What an incredible future. /s

And you end up wondering as well of it is even cheapest there or another ad that has been festooned on you along with fun AI hallucinations to really trip you up like "No, you have 2 bottles of milk, my internal sensors say so, so you don't need anymore" even if you open it up and find that its some random bottle it thinks its milk in its stupid AI brain, its a Fridge at the end of the day, it cools food and drink and that is all it ever needs to do, doesn't need smart bs, and this seems to be a running plague - a smart thermostat, smart lights maybe, something like a robot vacuum cleaner (though the efficacy of those is questionable unless you have absolutely nothing on your floor) can make sense, but this idiocy with "smart" fridges and ovens and the like is stupid

 

[AlexIL]

I started to like cars that were manufactured before 10s. No sensors overload.
Now I value a light bulb manufactured last century. It does not tell me when should I turn it on.

 

[kaosken]

Oh great! Just another way to put your brain on hold. The "Mark of the Beast" in slow motion.

 

[mosu]

Now I am a fan of Hanneke Faber.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

I can't wait for AI powered refrigerators. I'm sure Samsung is working on it. Their fridges are more software than hardware at this point.

The refrigerator will call you as you're driving back from work "Don't forget to buy some milk. I see Safeway has the lowest price at this moment. Or would you rather I order from Amazon for you."

What an incredible future. /s

- You missed the part where the fridge says "Love you" then awkwardly pauses realizing its not the right conversation to end on a "love you" and then just avoids you every time you walk into the kitchen.

That's when AI will have really arrived.

 

[magoid]

I started to like cars that were manufactured before 10s. No sensors overload.
Now I value a light bulb manufactured last century. It does not tell me when should I turn it on.

Indeed. I appreciate that all cars today have basic niceties like power steering and air conditioning, but things are getting out of hand. I don't need half the stuff they are pushing, which of course is making prices reach ridiculous levels.

But what pisses me off is most people actually look for all that crap, even if they don't need or even know what they are for, but they like to say they got "the loaded model".

 

[Underdog]

And I guess they don't really care about that old concept "reliability". Or what it will cost them to employ the nearest nerd with a laptop to fix it when it goes wrong.

I won't be buying a refrigerator that tells me what I need to buy. I can still get off my fat a$$ and see for myself that I am running short of, and using my still functioning brain to remember to buy it.