Meta’s latest move is rushing its push into AI-enabled hardware- the acquisition of AI wearables startup, Limitless.
Limitless, the Denver-based start-up that was previously known by the name “Rewind”, is most recognized for developing the AI pendant that would record and transcribe conversations, making it “a memory assistant”. Limitless will stop the sale of its hardware following the acquisition, but will keep supporting its existing customers for a year.
On the surface, this is just another technology giant expanding its skillset. In practice, it raises a much bigger question about the privacy of the data of Limitless’ existing customers, and even those around the device whose voices were being recorded without their consent.
But What Exactly Was Limitless Building and Why Meta Wanted It?
Limitless built a pendant that would clip onto clothing or a lanyard and was one of the most literal interpretations of “AI memory”. It would continuously record conversations, meetings and interactions of the person wearing it, along with those around them.
The audio was transcribed in real time and could be summarized and made searchable via a companion app. The idea was simple but ambitious: offload human memory to AI.
But, Meta didn’t acquire Limitless to sell pendants. It acquired it for the expertise, infrastructure, and lived experience of building a memory-first AI hardware. This is something Meta has been inching towards with its Ray-Ban and Oakley smart glasses.
Limitless is less about the product but more about a prototype for what’s to come next. AI systems that:
- Listen continuously
- Understand context
- Recall past interactions
- Surface information proactively
And this is not a pendant problem, it’s a platform problem.
Memory as the Next Interface and Why It’s Uncomfortable
We are used to interacting with technology through screens, keyboards and even touch. With AI wearables, this paradigm shifts towards memory as an interface.
Instead of remembering or even asking, searching or typing, the system already knows what you discussed last week, who said what in a meeting, what decisions were made and what context matters right now.
It is powerful but also deeply unsettling. Probably the only time I would appreciate this would be validating my argument in front of my boyfriend, but let’s not get personal here.
What’s worse is that, unlike smart rings and smartwatches, memory devices don’t just collect the data of the person wearing them. They inevitably collect data in the form of the voice of the people around them, often without explicit consent.
The Privacy Concern
The privacy-conscious, local-first philosophy of Limitless has changed by default since the takeover by Meta. The existing customers have a way to export their data or delete it from the app. They will also not have to pay the subscription fee and will be moved to an Unlimited Plan for now.
Continuing with the services will mean agreeing to new Terms of Service and Privacy Policies that would bring their data under Meta’s umbrella. The sad reality is that startups are built on principles and when tech giants acquire them, those promises are rarely preserved.
One of the least discussed aspects of AI wearables is that the risk isn’t limited to the person wearing the device. The conversations captured also involve colleagues, friends, family and even strangers we meet on the street.
Most of these people don’t even know that their voices and conversations may be recorded. This is a major concern I already have with the Ray-Ban Meta glasses as well. So, given that track record, I am skeptical about how seriously Meta would treat privacy as AI wearables become more pervasive.
So, Is This the Future of AI Wearables?
Meta’s acquisition of Limitless likely won’t result in a Meta-branded pendant, but it fits pretty well into their existing lineup of smartglasses. This new technology and talent will help Meta make their glasses more contextual, persistent and smarter.
The pendant form may fade, but the idea behind it won’t. Memory augmentation is one of the most compelling yet controversial use cases of Artificial Intelligence and Meta clearly believes in its potential.
The question isn’t whether AI wearables will remember more from our day. It is whether people will trust who their data is going to.
Wrap Up
The takeaway is simple: as AI moves closer to our bodies and our lives, choosing who we trust with our data matters as much as what that device can do and measure.
These devices don’t just capture our heart rate and steps, they capture conversations, context and moments from our everyday life. Once this data is captured, it is hard to fully delete.
With Meta’s acquisition of Limitless, we are bound to ask ourselves if companies are building tools that serve their consumers or training systems for their own benefit.
With memory devices, the cost of that choice will only become clear with time.
