ByteDance is delving further into hardware with the launch of their first set of earbuds, the $170 Ola Friend buds, currently only available in China. These earbuds connect to the company’s generative AI assistant, Doubao, which can be activated through voice commands. According to the South China Morning Post, wearers can use the open-ear buds as a tour guide and for practicing English among other features when paired with the Doubao mobile app. With over 47 million monthly active users in September, Doubao is currently the most popular GAI app in China. This release of Ola Friend follows ByteDance’s acquisition of Oladance this year, a company specializing in wearable audio devices and owning VR headset maker Pico. The earbuds come in four colors – purple, silver, black and white – and are now available for pre-orders, shipping on October 17th.
