Aina, a hardware startup, launched a smart ring priced at $399 that features a screen, joystick, microphone, and speaker. The ring lets users control AI agents, take notes, make calls, and manage smart home devices and music playback.
The startup raised $5.5 million in July. Aina previously made Mirage, a three-key Mac controller that mapped functions to apps like Google Meet.
The new ring incorporates those lessons with expanded controls. Users can dictate notes using Wispr Flow or Aina's dictation engine, set reminders, send prompts to agents, and navigate via joystick or gesture controls. A screen displays notifications and shows which apps users are controlling on their Mac or phone.
Aina's ring enters a crowded market that already includes smart rings from Pebble Index 01, Sandbar Stream, Oasis, and Natura. Aina added more controls to differentiate itself.
"Phones and laptop screens were designed for an age of browsing where you think about opening apps. For interacting with proactive agents, we need a better interface, and that is what we had in mind while designing Aina," founder Apoorv Shankar said.
The ring goes on preorder Thursday at $399 early-bird pricing. The company plans to ship starting January 2027. After the early-bird period ends, the ring will cost $499.