ByteDance is stepping into the hardware market with the launch of its first set of earbuds, the $170 Ola Friend buds. The TikTok owner’s latest offering will only be available in China initially. The earbuds are designed to connect with the company’s generative AI assistant, Doubao, which can be activated by voice command. Doubao is currently the most widely used generative AI app in China, with 47 million monthly active users as of September, since ByteDance has intensified its focus on generative AI following OpenAI’s release of ChatGPT in late 2022.
According South China Morning Post, users can use the open-ear buds as a tour guide during travel and to practice English. These features are accessible through the Doubao mobile app.
The release of Ola Friend comes after ByteDance's acquisition of Oladance, a wearable audio device maker, earlier this year—another move in ByteDance’s expansion into the tech hardware space, alongside its ownership of the VR headset maker Pico.
ByteDance began its venture into hardware back in 2019 with the acquisition of local smartphone brand Smartisan. In 2021, ByteDance purchased virtual reality startup Pico, riding the wave of the metaverse trend. And just last month, the company released the latest version of its VR headset, the Pico 4 Ultra, in Europe and several Asian markets, following its China launch in August.
The Ola Friend buds come in four colours: purple, silver, black, and white. Pre-orders begin today, with shipping set for October 17.
Read also: These AI Noise-Canceling Headphones Let You Choose Which Sounds to Block Out
