ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has taken a new step into the world of AI wearables. The Chinese tech giant has launched its first AI-integrated true wireless earbuds called Ola Friend, currently available only in China. These innovative earbuds have a built-in chatbot powered by ByteDance’s generative AI service, Doubao. This move into the audio wearables market follows ByteDanceโs acquisition of Oladance, a startup founded by former Bose engineers.
AI-powered earbuds for daily assistance
The Ola Friend earbuds are designed to act as personal AI assistants, helping users with various everyday tasks. According to information on Chinese e-commerce sites, these earbuds can assist you in practising English, guide you through travel, and even provide emotional support during difficult times. The AI integration offers interaction beyond what most wireless earbuds can do, positioning ByteDance to compete with established audio brands in an increasingly AI-driven market.
This launch follows a surge in demand for Bluetooth headsets in China. Data from IDC shows that 55.4 million units were shipped in the first half of 2024 aloneโa 20.8% increase from the previous year. ByteDance aims to tap into this growing market by offering an AI-powered device that provides more than just audio playback.
Lightweight design with advanced features
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— TMTPOST ้ๅชไฝ (@TMTPostGlobal) October 10, 2024
One of the key highlights of the Ola Friend earbuds is their lightweight design. Each earbud weighs just 6.6 grammes and comes equipped with a thin ear hook that is only 0.7mm at its thinnest point. The hooks are designed to distribute the weight evenly and contain a metal memory wire to ensure comfort during extended wear.
The earbuds use Bluetooth 5.4 technology, featuring a 10mm driver for high-quality sound. They also support multipoint connectivity, allowing you to connect to multiple devices simultaneously. Regarding battery life, the Ola Friend offers eight hours of playback time on a single charge, with the case providing an additional 20 hours, bringing the total to 28 hours. The earbuds are rated IP54, offering protection against dust and water splashes, although it remains unclear whether this rating also applies to the charging case.
Available for pre-order in multiple colours
ByteDance has made the Ola Friend earbuds available for pre-order in China through popular e-commerce platforms like Tmall, JD.com, and its own Douyin app (the Chinese version of TikTok). The earbuds come in four colour options: black, silver, purple, and white. Priced at CNY1,199 (around S$221), the earbuds appear in high demand, with only the black model still available for pre-order on Tmall. The first batch of orders is expected to start shipping on October 17, 2024.
By launching these AI-integrated earbuds, ByteDance is entering a highly competitive market with a unique edge, combining generative AI with audio technology. As the demand for AI wearables continues to expand, it will be interesting to see how ByteDanceโs Ola Friend earbuds fare among consumers.
