Technology

• Belkin unveils SoundForm Isolate and Dot earbuds
• Offer ANC, Multipoint and ear wings for a really low price
• Also, there's a new set of child-focused over-ears

You may know Belkin as a company that typically sells power banks, phone cases and charging cables, but its range is diverse and now includes some potential winners in the audio sector.

At IFA 2026, the brand has expanded its fledgling audio family with two new super-affordable pairs of earbuds, each of which offers Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) at a price far below rivals.

There's the SoundForm Isolate Buds, which sell for a very palatable £39.99 (about $54, AU$80), and the SoundForm Dot Buds, going for £29.99 (around $40, AU$60). Those names are meaty, but hopefully the audio is too.

Don't confuse the SoundForm Isolate Buds for the SoundForm Isolate; rookie mistake. Those are existing over-ears. Add 'Buds' for the new products.

Also, when it comes to the Dot option, you can select a model with or without ANC, because Belkin wants to give customers the choice. And the set that can't cancel noise can be yours for just £19.99 (around $26 or AU$36). Dot Got it? Good.

As luck would have it, we've got feet on the ground in Berlin at IFA, and my colleague Harry Padoan got a quick listen in with the SoundForm Isolate (main image and below).

His early thoughts? "From my brief time using the earbuds, they sounded very bass-heavy out of the box. The low-end was powerful and fairly regimented too, which is ideal for more energetic tracks," Padoan said. "While this could sometimes mean that vocals and mid-range sounds weren't the clearest in the mix, the audio quality seems relatively solid overall for the price you pay."

These options have been released alongside the SoundForm Play, over-ear headphones which are intended for "older kids".

Dot's the deal?

(Image credit: Future)

Both of Belkin's new earbuds are sold on an important promise: ANC for a lot less than Bose, Sony or Apple. But these buds have a few other benefits.

The Isolate offer Multipoint connection, a clear call quality mode, and a 32-hour battery life. They come with a wing-style design, with a ridge that keeps them locked in your ear, which should make them suitable for workouts.

The slightly cheaper Dots miss out on the wings, and have a slightly lower battery life at 30 hours, but still get Multipoint and clear calling. They also come in both ANC and non-ANC versions. The non-ANC model costs £19.99 (about $25, AU$40), so they're super cheap, but do miss a pretty useful tool.

Conspicuously absent? Any mention of the buds' audio architecture. It seems, then, that the feature list is the real selling point here; don't expect incredible sound (perhaps you guessed that from the price).

You'd be forgiven for being apprehensive about buying earbuds from a charging bank company, even a well-known one such as Belkin. However, many similar companies have begun making the jump into audio: Anker's Soundcore now makes some of our favorite earbuds, and Baseus is following suit — and both are also showing products at IFA.

This is because, unlike some spaces within tech, the power bank and charging tech sector is growing quickly (maybe people are holding onto their phones longer in these challenging times?), affording these brands some extra cash to put towards designing new affordable wearables.

What I'm saying is, it's well worth paying attention to Belkin's offerings. I'll be very interested to see if the company's affordable buds can rival our go-to best budget earbuds recommendations.

(Image credit: Belkin)

• Belkin unveils SoundForm Isolate and Dot earbuds
• Offer ANC, Multipoint and ear wings for a really low price
• Also, there's a new set of child-focused over-ears

You may know Belkin as a company that typically sells power banks, phone cases and charging cables, but its range is diverse and now includes some potential winners in the audio sector.

At IFA 2026, the brand has expanded its fledgling audio family with two new super-affordable pairs of earbuds, each of which offers Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) at a price far below rivals.

There's the SoundForm Isolate Buds, which sell for a very palatable £39.99 (about $54, AU$80), and the SoundForm Dot Buds, going for £29.99 (around $40, AU$60). Those names are meaty, but hopefully the audio is too.

Don't confuse the SoundForm Isolate Buds for the SoundForm Isolate; rookie mistake. Those are existing over-ears. Add 'Buds' for the new products.

Also, when it comes to the Dot option, you can select a model with or without ANC, because Belkin wants to give customers the choice. And the set that can't cancel noise can be yours for just £19.99 (around $26 or AU$36). Dot Got it? Good.

As luck would have it, we've got feet on the ground in Berlin at IFA, and my colleague Harry Padoan got a quick listen in with the SoundForm Isolate (main image and below).

His early thoughts? "From my brief time using the earbuds, they sounded very bass-heavy out of the box. The low-end was powerful and fairly regimented too, which is ideal for more energetic tracks," Padoan said. "While this could sometimes mean that vocals and mid-range sounds weren't the clearest in the mix, the audio quality seems relatively solid overall for the price you pay."

These options have been released alongside the SoundForm Play, over-ear headphones which are intended for "older kids".

Dot's the deal?

(Image credit: Future)

Both of Belkin's new earbuds are sold on an important promise: ANC for a lot less than Bose, Sony or Apple. But these buds have a few other benefits.

The Isolate offer Multipoint connection, a clear call quality mode, and a 32-hour battery life. They come with a wing-style design, with a ridge that keeps them locked in your ear, which should make them suitable for workouts.

The slightly cheaper Dots miss out on the wings, and have a slightly lower battery life at 30 hours, but still get Multipoint and clear calling. They also come in both ANC and non-ANC versions. The non-ANC model costs £19.99 (about $25, AU$40), so they're super cheap, but do miss a pretty useful tool.

Conspicuously absent? Any mention of the buds' audio architecture. It seems, then, that the feature list is the real selling point here; don't expect incredible sound (perhaps you guessed that from the price).

You'd be forgiven for being apprehensive about buying earbuds from a charging bank company, even a well-known one such as Belkin. However, many similar companies have begun making the jump into audio: Anker's Soundcore now makes some of our favorite earbuds, and Baseus is following suit — and both are also showing products at IFA.

This is because, unlike some spaces within tech, the power bank and charging tech sector is growing quickly (maybe people are holding onto their phones longer in these challenging times?), affording these brands some extra cash to put towards designing new affordable wearables.

What I'm saying is, it's well worth paying attention to Belkin's offerings. I'll be very interested to see if the company's affordable buds can rival our go-to best budget earbuds recommendations.

(Image credit: Belkin)

• UK legislators propose “kill switch” laws to halt runaway AI, citing critical infrastructure risks
• Lord Clement‑Jones and MP Alex Sobel push amendments and new bills, backed by ControlAI advocacy group
• Similar efforts emerging in US

Sam Altman’s fear-based marketing for AI seems to have backfired, as now multiple legislators in the UK and elsewhere are calling for a “kill switch” law to be introduced.

According to the BBC, Liberal Democrats’ Lord Tim Clement-Jones proposed an amendment to the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill which would see the UK create a “vital safety net” to provide a “democratically accountable means to ‘halt a runaway system before it can compromise our critical national infrastructure’.” The capability would only be used as a last resort, Clement-Jones stressed.

The bill is currently being worked through in the UK Parliament, the BBC said.

Is there reason to worry?

But that’s not the only effort in the UK to put some reigns on AI. Apparently, Labour MP Alex Sobel plans to introduce an AI Security Bill later this month which, according to the BBC, would “effectively halt the development of superintelligent AI” and make the UK the first G7 country to do so.

The bill is supported by a campaign group called ControlAI, a UK-based nonprofit and advocacy organization focused on the risks posed by advanced AI. Its founder and CEO is Andrea Miotti, who previously worked at the AI safety company called Conjecture. Across the pond, US legislators are currently considering an AI Kill Switch Act as well, but the bill is still in very early stages of development.

Ever since the first ChatGPT model that was introduced in 2021, a debate has been raging whether or not AI will be net positive, or net negative, for humanity. While some argue that the discovery rivals the steam machine and that it will transform our lives beyond our wildest dreams, others are fearful of losing jobs, a collapsing economy, and a dystopian future devoid of humanity and emotion.

Marketing campaigns for ChatGPT and, in some measure, Claude, are not helping, either. Both companies have built models focused on cybersecurity which were advertised as “too dangerous” for the general public and instead were only given to a handful of organizations. Despite partial skepticism, many are worried that these models might severely disrupt the security of banking, critical infrastructure, and communications.

Via BBC

Let's say you've got an idea for a new business. A landing page is usually the first piece of "real estate" you invest in, long before you think of retail space or even a marketing brochure.

Websites cost a lot less today than they did ten years ago, but they cost even less if you know what you need (or don't).

In this guide, I'll show you how to set up a professional website for a solo or small business for as little as $13 in setup costs. You'll need a GitHub account, a free or low-cost vibe coding app, and $5 to $20 of spare cash for a domain registration.

But the best part is that you can scale this setup as you grow, adding just what you need without a single cent wasted. Slow season? You can also scale those resources back down. Here's exactly how I would structure it.

Launching a website in a day with $13: What to expect

My stack works best for landing pages, portfolios, small business sites, and simple lead generation forms. You'll end up with a mobile-friendly site on your own domain, built without any coding skills by describing what you want in plain English.

There's always a trade-off with these setups, which is scale. You can't collect payments, running complex workflows will crash your website, and storage is limited if you want to host audiovisual content.

But if you structure it right, you can keep space to expand things later without having to go through an expensive migration to a premium platform. There's no vendor lock-in, your existing stack is designed for scalability, and you're not stuck with any one provider.

Does it really cost $13?

Yes, because you'll only have to pay for the domain and a small subscription fee if you want to access one of the better vibe coding or AI website builders.

A .com domain from a mainstream registrar runs somewhere between $5 and $15 for the first year, which covers the budget in this guide with room to spare.

There's no upcharge for connecting your domain, AI tools don't always bill you for every additional token, and there are no additional monthly charges for hosting or storage, etc.

What tools will I need?

You'll need three things, and possibly a couple more if your site needs to store data or display dynamic content. Each category has many options with generous free plans. None of them require you to enter a credit card to get started.

Here's the exact stack you'll use to build and launch a website using this guide.

• A vibe coding tool. Look for one that supports code sync and export to an external repository, even on the free plan.
• A free GitHub account with a new repository that has GitHub Pages enabled.
• A custom top-level domain, such as a .com or .org, which costs roughly $10 to $20 a year.
• A free Supabase account for handling logins and storing form submissions. This one is entirely optional.
• A free AI code editor, like Cursor or Claude Code, installed on your computer for minor tweaks and updates. Also optional.

Step-by-step instructions for launching a $13 website in one day

All of these steps take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour individually. Work through them in order, and you should have a live site well before dinner.

Step 1: Describe your site to a vibe coding tool

Open your chosen vibe coding platform and describe the site you want in plain language. Mention the type of business, the pages you need (home, about, contact, pricing), and any specific sections like a lead capture form or testimonials block.

Most tools generate a working preview within a minute or two. From there, refine it with follow-up prompts:

• Ask for changes to layout, color scheme, or copy one section at a time, rather than everything at once.
• Request a working contact or sign-up form early, since this is often the trickiest part to get right.
• Check the mobile preview, since most visitors will land on your site from a phone.

Remember that on most free tiers, vibe coding tools will limit the number of prompts you can enter in a day. So make sure to read up on these limits and be certain about what you want so you can describe it verbatim. Also mention that you'll be hosting the website using GitHub Pages in your prompt itself, so that the AI can structure the code to be Pages-compatible.

Step 2: Connect a GitHub repository

Once you're happy with the design, look for the option to sync or export your project to GitHub. Most vibe coding tools have a one-click GitHub connection built in. You can also just export the code as a ZIP file and upload the contents directly to GitHub.

Create a free GitHub account, then create a new repository for the project. Keep it public so you can enable GitHub Pages, because Pages hosting is free for public repositories but requires a Premium plan for private ones.

Step 3: Turn on GitHub Pages

In your repository, go to Settings, then Pages. Choose the branch your site should deploy from (usually main) and save your changes.

GitHub will generate a free web address in the format yourusername.github.io/repository-name. This confirms your site is live, even before you attach a custom domain.

Step 4: Buy your domain

Pick a domain registrar and search for the domain name you want. Prices vary depending on the extension you pick, so a .com will usually cost more than a less common option like .dev or .site.

Stick to a mainstream registrar with clear pricing and no surprise renewal jumps. Skip any add-ons you don't need, like a premium DNS, to keep your total below $10.

Step 5: Point your domain at GitHub Pages

Back in your GitHub repository's Pages settings, enter your custom domain in the relevant field. This creates a small configuration file in your repository that tells GitHub which domain to serve your site from.

Then, in your domain registrar's dashboard, add the DNS records GitHub provides. This usually means a few A records pointing to GitHub's servers, plus a CNAME record if you're using a "www" version of your domain. These changes can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours to fully take effect.

Step 6: Set up Supabase (optional)

If your site needs to collect sign-ups, store bookings, or handle a login system, create a free Supabase project. Supabase gives you a hosted database along with authentication tools, without needing to manage a server yourself.

Most vibe coding tools have a direct Supabase integration, so you can usually connect your project with an API key rather than writing database code by hand. Ask your vibe coding tool to build the specific form or login flow you need. It will typically wire up the Supabase connection for you. When you connect or upload the files and code to GitHub, the integration will stay intact.

Step 7: Test everything before you call it done

Open your site on both desktop and mobile, and click through every link, button, and form. Submit a test entry through any lead capture form to confirm it actually reaches Supabase or your inbox.

Check that your custom domain loads correctly with https:// rather than throwing a security warning, since GitHub Pages issues free SSL certificates automatically once your DNS is set up correctly. Fix anything that looks off before sharing the link with anyone.

For small fixes, like a typo or a button that's misaligned, it's often faster to open the project in a free AI code editor like Cursor or Claude Code and make the change directly, rather than going back through your vibe coding tool's chat interface. Once you push the update to GitHub, your live site refreshes automatically.

What to do when you outgrow your $13 website

At some point, your free tiers will start to feel tight. Maybe you're approaching Supabase's storage or user limits, or your traffic has grown to the point where you want more control over performance and analytics.

The good news is that none of the upgrades below require you to rebuild your site from scratch. Because your code lives in a standard GitHub repository, you can move it to almost any hosting provider without losing your design or content.

• Upgrade your Supabase project to a paid tier once you're close to the free plan's storage, bandwidth, or user limits, rather than waiting until you hit a hard wall.
• Move hosting from GitHub Pages to a platform built for dynamic sites, such as Vercel or Netlify, if you need server-side features GitHub Pages doesn't support.
• Add a content delivery network in front of your site once traffic grows, so pages load quickly for visitors regardless of where they're located.
• Bring in a developer to review and harden any AI-generated code before it handles sensitive customer data, particularly around authentication and payments.
• Set up proper analytics and monitoring so you know when you're approaching a limit, instead of finding out when something breaks.

Low cost alternatives

The approach I have outlined above gives a great level of flexibility and scalability with a small upfront cost. However, there are other options out there if you are looking to create a website on a budget.

For example, you may pick an AI website builder and build your website entirely within that platform. This offers a simpler, all-in-one approach, although it can make it tricky to move your website elsewhere if you find it doesn't meet your needs in the future.

The best AI website builders start at around $2.99 a month, although this price will often rise to anywhere from $10 to $150 a month once the introductory period is over and depending on your website needs.

Let's say you've got an idea for a new business. A landing page is usually the first piece of "real estate" you invest in, long before you think of retail space or even a marketing brochure.

Websites cost a lot less today than they did ten years ago, but they cost even less if you know what you need (or don't).

In this guide, I'll show you how to set up a professional website for a solo or small business for as little as $13 in setup costs. You'll need a GitHub account, a free or low-cost vibe coding app, and $5 to $20 of spare cash for a domain registration.

But the best part is that you can scale this setup as you grow, adding just what you need without a single cent wasted. Slow season? You can also scale those resources back down. Here's exactly how I would structure it.

Launching a website in a day with $13: What to expect

My stack works best for landing pages, portfolios, small business sites, and simple lead generation forms. You'll end up with a mobile-friendly site on your own domain, built without any coding skills by describing what you want in plain English.

There's always a trade-off with these setups, which is scale. You can't collect payments, running complex workflows will crash your website, and storage is limited if you want to host audiovisual content.

But if you structure it right, you can keep space to expand things later without having to go through an expensive migration to a premium platform. There's no vendor lock-in, your existing stack is designed for scalability, and you're not stuck with any one provider.

Does it really cost $13?

Yes, because you'll only have to pay for the domain and a small subscription fee if you want to access one of the better vibe coding or AI website builders.

A .com domain from a mainstream registrar runs somewhere between $5 and $15 for the first year, which covers the budget in this guide with room to spare.

There's no upcharge for connecting your domain, AI tools don't always bill you for every additional token, and there are no additional monthly charges for hosting or storage, etc.

What tools will I need?

You'll need three things, and possibly a couple more if your site needs to store data or display dynamic content. Each category has many options with generous free plans. None of them require you to enter a credit card to get started.

Here's the exact stack you'll use to build and launch a website using this guide.

• A vibe coding tool. Look for one that supports code sync and export to an external repository, even on the free plan.
• A free GitHub account with a new repository that has GitHub Pages enabled.
• A custom top-level domain, such as a .com or .org, which costs roughly $10 to $20 a year.
• A free Supabase account for handling logins and storing form submissions. This one is entirely optional.
• A free AI code editor, like Cursor or Claude Code, installed on your computer for minor tweaks and updates. Also optional.

Step-by-step instructions for launching a $13 website in one day

All of these steps take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour individually. Work through them in order, and you should have a live site well before dinner.

Step 1: Describe your site to a vibe coding tool

Open your chosen vibe coding platform and describe the site you want in plain language. Mention the type of business, the pages you need (home, about, contact, pricing), and any specific sections like a lead capture form or testimonials block.

Most tools generate a working preview within a minute or two. From there, refine it with follow-up prompts:

• Ask for changes to layout, color scheme, or copy one section at a time, rather than everything at once.
• Request a working contact or sign-up form early, since this is often the trickiest part to get right.
• Check the mobile preview, since most visitors will land on your site from a phone.

Remember that on most free tiers, vibe coding tools will limit the number of prompts you can enter in a day. So make sure to read up on these limits and be certain about what you want so you can describe it verbatim. Also mention that you'll be hosting the website using GitHub Pages in your prompt itself, so that the AI can structure the code to be Pages-compatible.

Step 2: Connect a GitHub repository

Once you're happy with the design, look for the option to sync or export your project to GitHub. Most vibe coding tools have a one-click GitHub connection built in. You can also just export the code as a ZIP file and upload the contents directly to GitHub.

Create a free GitHub account, then create a new repository for the project. Keep it public so you can enable GitHub Pages, because Pages hosting is free for public repositories but requires a Premium plan for private ones.

Step 3: Turn on GitHub Pages

In your repository, go to Settings, then Pages. Choose the branch your site should deploy from (usually main) and save your changes.

GitHub will generate a free web address in the format yourusername.github.io/repository-name. This confirms your site is live, even before you attach a custom domain.

Step 4: Buy your domain

Pick a domain registrar and search for the domain name you want. Prices vary depending on the extension you pick, so a .com will usually cost more than a less common option like .dev or .site.

Stick to a mainstream registrar with clear pricing and no surprise renewal jumps. Skip any add-ons you don't need, like a premium DNS, to keep your total below $10.

Step 5: Point your domain at GitHub Pages

Back in your GitHub repository's Pages settings, enter your custom domain in the relevant field. This creates a small configuration file in your repository that tells GitHub which domain to serve your site from.

Then, in your domain registrar's dashboard, add the DNS records GitHub provides. This usually means a few A records pointing to GitHub's servers, plus a CNAME record if you're using a "www" version of your domain. These changes can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours to fully take effect.

Step 6: Set up Supabase (optional)

If your site needs to collect sign-ups, store bookings, or handle a login system, create a free Supabase project. Supabase gives you a hosted database along with authentication tools, without needing to manage a server yourself.

Most vibe coding tools have a direct Supabase integration, so you can usually connect your project with an API key rather than writing database code by hand. Ask your vibe coding tool to build the specific form or login flow you need. It will typically wire up the Supabase connection for you. When you connect or upload the files and code to GitHub, the integration will stay intact.

Step 7: Test everything before you call it done

Open your site on both desktop and mobile, and click through every link, button, and form. Submit a test entry through any lead capture form to confirm it actually reaches Supabase or your inbox.

Check that your custom domain loads correctly with https:// rather than throwing a security warning, since GitHub Pages issues free SSL certificates automatically once your DNS is set up correctly. Fix anything that looks off before sharing the link with anyone.

For small fixes, like a typo or a button that's misaligned, it's often faster to open the project in a free AI code editor like Cursor or Claude Code and make the change directly, rather than going back through your vibe coding tool's chat interface. Once you push the update to GitHub, your live site refreshes automatically.

What to do when you outgrow your $13 website

At some point, your free tiers will start to feel tight. Maybe you're approaching Supabase's storage or user limits, or your traffic has grown to the point where you want more control over performance and analytics.

The good news is that none of the upgrades below require you to rebuild your site from scratch. Because your code lives in a standard GitHub repository, you can move it to almost any hosting provider without losing your design or content.

• Upgrade your Supabase project to a paid tier once you're close to the free plan's storage, bandwidth, or user limits, rather than waiting until you hit a hard wall.
• Move hosting from GitHub Pages to a platform built for dynamic sites, such as Vercel or Netlify, if you need server-side features GitHub Pages doesn't support.
• Add a content delivery network in front of your site once traffic grows, so pages load quickly for visitors regardless of where they're located.
• Bring in a developer to review and harden any AI-generated code before it handles sensitive customer data, particularly around authentication and payments.
• Set up proper analytics and monitoring so you know when you're approaching a limit, instead of finding out when something breaks.

Low cost alternatives

The approach I have outlined above gives a great level of flexibility and scalability with a small upfront cost. However, there are other options out there if you are looking to create a website on a budget.

For example, you may pick an AI website builder and build your website entirely within that platform. This offers a simpler, all-in-one approach, although it can make it tricky to move your website elsewhere if you find it doesn't meet your needs in the future.

The best AI website builders start at around $2.99 a month, although this price will often rise to anywhere from $10 to $150 a month once the introductory period is over and depending on your website needs.

Sam Altman does not like smart glasses. Speaking on the Sources Podcast, the OpenAI CEO said he finds it “very uncomfortable talking to people with a camera and a light” and confirmed that he does not wear smart glasses himself. That is a surprisingly firm position considering where the technology industry appears to be heading and the success of products like Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses.

Then again, Altman is working with former Apple design chief Jony Ive on an entire family of AI devices. OpenAI has kept the Ive project deliberately foggy, but Altman has suggested they are making a range of AI hardware. His comments about smart glasses draw one clear boundary, removing the idea of a camera pointed at everyone as a feature.

Smart glasses have visible drawback

(Image credit: Meta)

Altman does identify a fundamental flaw in smart glasses that has little to do with processors, battery life or AI model choices. Glasses place technology directly between two people looking at each other, and adding a camera turns an ordinary conversation into one where the other person has to wonder whether they are also an unwilling piece of content.

Smartphones established a useful social signal around recording. Someone pointing a phone camera at you is usually fairly conspicuous. Camera glasses erase much of that distinction because their great design achievement is making a recording device look inconspicuous. It's why similar tools have been a staple of James Bond-style spy fiction for decades.

Australia’s eSafety commissioner has already asked manufacturers to make recording indicators impossible to disable and automatically blur faces when informed consent is absent. The regulator cited women being covertly filmed for social content and rejected the idea that telling customers to behave responsibly amounts to a safety policy. The backlash reflects a public tired of paying the social price for somebody else’s convenience.

Important exceptions to the argument against camera glasses exist. The same visual awareness that creates privacy problems can be genuinely transformative for blind and low-vision users, something Australia’s regulator explicitly acknowledged. That makes an outright rejection of the technology too simplistic, but it also strengthens the case that camera glasses may be better suited to particular needs rather than as the default AI hardware.

Wearable, not watchable

Altman’s comments about AI hardware point to an all-encompassing strategy of making devices for tables, pockets, and "on your body,” and that OpenAI will take time to launch all of them. OpenAI has previously described its work with Ive as an attempt to move beyond traditional interfaces. So not just a miniature smartphone strapped to your face.

An audio-first wearable suddenly makes far more sense. An earpiece, pendant, clip or other discreet device could provide persistent access to an AI assistant without placing a camera directly in the sightline of everyone the wearer encounters. It could listen when summoned and respond quietly like wireless earbuds or smartwatches.

Some may prefer the camera and the data an AI assistant gains from it about the physical world. And of course, putting microphones on wearables raises privacy questions just fine without cameras. Making the device unobtrusive yet observant is the trick Ive and Altman have to perform lest it face the same social opprobrium as the AI smart glasses.

Ive built his reputation around products whose complexity receded behind their physical design. But AI assistants will know and hear far more than an iPod ever did. A successful AI wearable cannot merely make advanced computing invisible to its owner. It must make its intentions legible to everyone else.

Meta is betting that the camera can become socially acceptable because they are built into discreet smart glasses; OpenAI may instead bet on a successful AI wearable that won't potentially creep out everyone you pass on the street. The best OpenAI wearable feature may in fact be an absence, and "no camera" its most enticing selling point.

Sam Altman does not like smart glasses. Speaking on the Sources Podcast, the OpenAI CEO said he finds it “very uncomfortable talking to people with a camera and a light” and confirmed that he does not wear smart glasses himself. That is a surprisingly firm position considering where the technology industry appears to be heading and the success of products like Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses.

Then again, Altman is working with former Apple design chief Jony Ive on an entire family of AI devices. OpenAI has kept the Ive project deliberately foggy, but Altman has suggested they are making a range of AI hardware. His comments about smart glasses draw one clear boundary, removing the idea of a camera pointed at everyone as a feature.

Smart glasses have visible drawback

(Image credit: Meta)

Altman does identify a fundamental flaw in smart glasses that has little to do with processors, battery life or AI model choices. Glasses place technology directly between two people looking at each other, and adding a camera turns an ordinary conversation into one where the other person has to wonder whether they are also an unwilling piece of content.

Smartphones established a useful social signal around recording. Someone pointing a phone camera at you is usually fairly conspicuous. Camera glasses erase much of that distinction because their great design achievement is making a recording device look inconspicuous. It's why similar tools have been a staple of James Bond-style spy fiction for decades.

Australia’s eSafety commissioner has already asked manufacturers to make recording indicators impossible to disable and automatically blur faces when informed consent is absent. The regulator cited women being covertly filmed for social content and rejected the idea that telling customers to behave responsibly amounts to a safety policy. The backlash reflects a public tired of paying the social price for somebody else’s convenience.

Important exceptions to the argument against camera glasses exist. The same visual awareness that creates privacy problems can be genuinely transformative for blind and low-vision users, something Australia’s regulator explicitly acknowledged. That makes an outright rejection of the technology too simplistic, but it also strengthens the case that camera glasses may be better suited to particular needs rather than as the default AI hardware.

Wearable, not watchable

Altman’s comments about AI hardware point to an all-encompassing strategy of making devices for tables, pockets, and "on your body,” and that OpenAI will take time to launch all of them. OpenAI has previously described its work with Ive as an attempt to move beyond traditional interfaces. So not just a miniature smartphone strapped to your face.

An audio-first wearable suddenly makes far more sense. An earpiece, pendant, clip or other discreet device could provide persistent access to an AI assistant without placing a camera directly in the sightline of everyone the wearer encounters. It could listen when summoned and respond quietly like wireless earbuds or smartwatches.

Some may prefer the camera and the data an AI assistant gains from it about the physical world. And of course, putting microphones on wearables raises privacy questions just fine without cameras. Making the device unobtrusive yet observant is the trick Ive and Altman have to perform lest it face the same social opprobrium as the AI smart glasses.

Ive built his reputation around products whose complexity receded behind their physical design. But AI assistants will know and hear far more than an iPod ever did. A successful AI wearable cannot merely make advanced computing invisible to its owner. It must make its intentions legible to everyone else.

Meta is betting that the camera can become socially acceptable because they are built into discreet smart glasses; OpenAI may instead bet on a successful AI wearable that won't potentially creep out everyone you pass on the street. The best OpenAI wearable feature may in fact be an absence, and "no camera" its most enticing selling point.

Organizations are investing heavily in artificial intelligence, but technology alone isn’t going to determine success. The businesses that unlock AI's full potential will be those that give governance the same attention as innovation.

In the rush to deploy AI tools, too many organizations are treating governance as something that can be addressed later. AI introduces a level of speed, autonomy and organizational impact that traditional governance frameworks were never designed to manage. Businesses that fail to rethink governance now risk increasing operational risk, slowing future adoption and undermining the value of their investments.

Organizations need to shift their mindset and recognize that implementing AI requires fundamental transformation in how decisions are made. With governance, accountability and transparency to be embedded from the outset, not pulled together after deployment.

AI is transforming organizations, not just technology

Unlike previous technology transformations, AI is influencing how decisions are made across almost every part of the business. From customer service and finance to human resources and operations, AI is becoming embedded in day-to-day processes and increasingly making recommendations, or decisions, with minimal human intervention.

As AI becomes more deeply integrated into business operations, responsibility can no longer sit solely with technology teams. Legal, privacy, risk, compliance and business leaders all have a role to play in ensuring AI is implemented responsibly and consistently.

Successful AI adoption is therefore as much an organizational and cultural shift as it is a technology transformation. Businesses that continue to treat AI as a standalone IT initiative risk fragmented ownership, inconsistent governance and missed opportunities to scale AI effectively.

Traditional governance wasn't built for AI

Many organizations still operate with a "deploy first, govern later" mindset, believing governance can be introduced once AI is established. The reality is that governance becomes significantly harder once AI is embedded across business processes.

Traditional governance models were built for a much slower pace of technology adoption. AI changes that equation. New tools, models and autonomous agents can be introduced into workflows in hours, while governance often still relies on manual reviews, siloed assessments and reactive oversight.

This creates a widening gap between AI innovation and organizational readiness. At the same time, AI is creating entirely new data use cases, while regulatory expectations continue to evolve. AI's use of data can also be dynamic and unpredictable, meaning documented controls are no longer sufficient when outcomes can't be predetermined.

Organizations need AI-ready governance – governance that evolves alongside AI through automated, collaborative assessments, programmatic controls embedded at the data layer, and continuous monitoring of risk across the business. As AI operates 24/7, governance must provide ongoing visibility into an organization's risk posture, rather than relying on point-in-time reviews.

The result is a growing disconnect between AI adoption and governance maturity. While organizations are investing heavily in AI, many have yet to modernize the governance, operating models and cross-functional accountability needed to support it. Closing this gap requires governance that operates at AI speed, enabling organizations to innovate with confidence while managing risk and maintaining trust.

Building the right foundations

One of the biggest misconceptions about AI governance is that it slows innovation. In reality, strong governance is what gives organizations the confidence to innovate, enabling them to deploy, scale and adapt AI responsibly.

The real shift isn’t purely technological or organization, it’s the combination of both. While AI is driving business transformation, organizations also need the right technical foundations to support it. AI can no longer be viewed as a technology initiative owned solely by IT.

Successfully scaling AI requires business leaders, risk teams and IT to work together, with IT embedding programmatic guardrails and controls that reflect business requirements. Without this partnership, organizational governance alone won't be able to keep pace with the speed and complexity of AI.

The organizations that gain the greatest competitive advantage won't necessarily be those that adopt AI first. They'll be the ones that recognize AI success depends as much on leadership, governance and organizational readiness as it does on the technology itself.

We've featured the best AI chatbot for business.

This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today.

The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit

Organizations are investing heavily in artificial intelligence, but technology alone isn’t going to determine success. The businesses that unlock AI's full potential will be those that give governance the same attention as innovation.

In the rush to deploy AI tools, too many organizations are treating governance as something that can be addressed later. AI introduces a level of speed, autonomy and organizational impact that traditional governance frameworks were never designed to manage. Businesses that fail to rethink governance now risk increasing operational risk, slowing future adoption and undermining the value of their investments.

Organizations need to shift their mindset and recognize that implementing AI requires fundamental transformation in how decisions are made. With governance, accountability and transparency to be embedded from the outset, not pulled together after deployment.

AI is transforming organizations, not just technology

Unlike previous technology transformations, AI is influencing how decisions are made across almost every part of the business. From customer service and finance to human resources and operations, AI is becoming embedded in day-to-day processes and increasingly making recommendations, or decisions, with minimal human intervention.

As AI becomes more deeply integrated into business operations, responsibility can no longer sit solely with technology teams. Legal, privacy, risk, compliance and business leaders all have a role to play in ensuring AI is implemented responsibly and consistently.

Successful AI adoption is therefore as much an organizational and cultural shift as it is a technology transformation. Businesses that continue to treat AI as a standalone IT initiative risk fragmented ownership, inconsistent governance and missed opportunities to scale AI effectively.

Traditional governance wasn't built for AI

Many organizations still operate with a "deploy first, govern later" mindset, believing governance can be introduced once AI is established. The reality is that governance becomes significantly harder once AI is embedded across business processes.

Traditional governance models were built for a much slower pace of technology adoption. AI changes that equation. New tools, models and autonomous agents can be introduced into workflows in hours, while governance often still relies on manual reviews, siloed assessments and reactive oversight.

This creates a widening gap between AI innovation and organizational readiness. At the same time, AI is creating entirely new data use cases, while regulatory expectations continue to evolve. AI's use of data can also be dynamic and unpredictable, meaning documented controls are no longer sufficient when outcomes can't be predetermined.

Organizations need AI-ready governance – governance that evolves alongside AI through automated, collaborative assessments, programmatic controls embedded at the data layer, and continuous monitoring of risk across the business. As AI operates 24/7, governance must provide ongoing visibility into an organization's risk posture, rather than relying on point-in-time reviews.

The result is a growing disconnect between AI adoption and governance maturity. While organizations are investing heavily in AI, many have yet to modernize the governance, operating models and cross-functional accountability needed to support it. Closing this gap requires governance that operates at AI speed, enabling organizations to innovate with confidence while managing risk and maintaining trust.

Building the right foundations

One of the biggest misconceptions about AI governance is that it slows innovation. In reality, strong governance is what gives organizations the confidence to innovate, enabling them to deploy, scale and adapt AI responsibly.

The real shift isn’t purely technological or organization, it’s the combination of both. While AI is driving business transformation, organizations also need the right technical foundations to support it. AI can no longer be viewed as a technology initiative owned solely by IT.

Successfully scaling AI requires business leaders, risk teams and IT to work together, with IT embedding programmatic guardrails and controls that reflect business requirements. Without this partnership, organizational governance alone won't be able to keep pace with the speed and complexity of AI.

The organizations that gain the greatest competitive advantage won't necessarily be those that adopt AI first. They'll be the ones that recognize AI success depends as much on leadership, governance and organizational readiness as it does on the technology itself.

We've featured the best AI chatbot for business.

This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today.

The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit

I'm always looking for a good deal, and Amazon's Labor Day sale has revealed plenty of great home office upgrades. So, I've hand-picked 24 top Labor Day deals under $50 if you need to give your home office a refresh without breaking the bank.

Some of my favorite deals here include the ultra-useful (and ultra-cute) Ugreen Uno charging block, an undetectable mouse jiggler (don't tell the boss), and the Logitech MX Anywhere wireless mouse, which works on pretty much any surface, whether you're working at home, in the office, or on the move.

For laptops, monitors, printers, and more stylish WFH upgrades, I've searched the sales and you can check out my guide to the best Labor Day home office deals.

Labor Day deals under $50

Sony Sony WH-CH520 Wireless On-Ear Bluetooth Headphones With Microphone

Pzloz LED Desk Lamp

Nordik By Design Leather Desk Mat

Ugreen Uno 65W 3-Port Fast Charging Block

Logitech MX Anywhere 2s Wireless Mouse | Bluetooth Edition

Supsonic Heated Coffee Mug

Vaydeer Undetectable Mouse Jiggler

Acer 7-In-1 Wireless Charging Station

Stanley Quencher H2.0 Flow State Tumbler

MNN 15.6" Portable Monitor

Wolfbox Megaflow 50 Compressed Air Duster

Anker Zolo USB-C 50W Charger Blocks

Vsdinside Customizable Macro Keypad

Logitech MK270 Full Size Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo

Anker 5-in-1 USB-C hub

Ugreen Portable Adjustable Laptop Stand

Marbrasse Mesh Desk Organizer

Supvan E11 Keyboard & Bluetooth Label Maker Machine

Logitech Brio 101 Webcam | FHD

CloudBliss Under Desk Foot Rest

Vivo Adjustable Dual Monitor Arm

Eurpmask Rotating Clamp-on Headphone Hanger

Lamicall 6 Pack Rotatable Cord Organizer

TP-Link Wi-Fi 6 Router

• Shop all of Amazon's Labor Day Sale

I'm always looking for a good deal, and Amazon's Labor Day sale has revealed plenty of great home office upgrades. So, I've hand-picked 24 top Labor Day deals under $50 if you need to give your home office a refresh without breaking the bank.

Some of my favorite deals here include the ultra-useful (and ultra-cute) Ugreen Uno charging block, an undetectable mouse jiggler (don't tell the boss), and the Logitech MX Anywhere wireless mouse, which works on pretty much any surface, whether you're working at home, in the office, or on the move.

For laptops, monitors, printers, and more stylish WFH upgrades, I've searched the sales and you can check out my guide to the best Labor Day home office deals.

Labor Day deals under $50

Sony Sony WH-CH520 Wireless On-Ear Bluetooth Headphones With Microphone

Pzloz LED Desk Lamp

Nordik By Design Leather Desk Mat

Ugreen Uno 65W 3-Port Fast Charging Block

Logitech MX Anywhere 2s Wireless Mouse | Bluetooth Edition

Supsonic Heated Coffee Mug

Vaydeer Undetectable Mouse Jiggler

Acer 7-In-1 Wireless Charging Station

Stanley Quencher H2.0 Flow State Tumbler

MNN 15.6" Portable Monitor

Wolfbox Megaflow 50 Compressed Air Duster

Anker Zolo USB-C 50W Charger Blocks

Vsdinside Customizable Macro Keypad

Logitech MK270 Full Size Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo

Anker 5-in-1 USB-C hub

Ugreen Portable Adjustable Laptop Stand

Marbrasse Mesh Desk Organizer

Supvan E11 Keyboard & Bluetooth Label Maker Machine

Logitech Brio 101 Webcam | FHD

CloudBliss Under Desk Foot Rest

Vivo Adjustable Dual Monitor Arm

Eurpmask Rotating Clamp-on Headphone Hanger

Lamicall 6 Pack Rotatable Cord Organizer

TP-Link Wi-Fi 6 Router

• Shop all of Amazon's Labor Day Sale

Xiaomi has big plans for its push into Europe.

Mops that can remove old and dried stains are everyone’s concern at IFA Berlin this year.

The Boulies MagVida has an absolutely unique way to keep your tech and cables tidy.

Eufy’s sterilization-focused robot vacuum is the product I’m most looking forward to checking out in Berlin.

Anker announces the Sleep Earbuds 4 Pro at IFA, along with a stylish bedside sleep speaker, a hearing aid and a bunch of headphones.

Anker’s security division has big plans, and the company is prepping an even bigger AI management system for your home — without relying on cloud data or subscriptions.

Connections players on Reddit say it was ruff.

A multimillion-dollar campaign is trying to reverse the trend of the public’s growing disdain for AI data centers.

The rides will take place in the Ford Mustang Mach-E. Initially, a safety operator will remain in the driver’s seat.