Sandbar, a new AI hardware startup founded by former Meta interface specialists Mina Fahmi and Kirak Hong, has unveiled Stream, a voice-driven smart ring designed to give users a faster, quieter way to interact with AI. Positioned as “a mouse for voice,” the ring enables note-taking, idea capture, and AI-assisted interactions through a touch-activated microphone built into a minimalist wearable.
Fahmi, whose background spans Kernel and Magic Leap, and Hong, formerly of Google and CTRL-Labs, created Stream after concluding that traditional apps hinder spontaneous thought. Their ring activates only when touched, allowing whispered input that is transcribed and organized by an integrated AI assistant. The companion app also offers conversation history, personalization features, and media-control functions powered directly through the ring.
Sandbar is opening preorders for Stream at $249 for silver and $299 for gold, with shipments expected next summer. A Pro tier adds expanded AI capabilities and early-access tools. The company emphasizes full user data control, encryption, and openness to exporting content to third-party platforms. Sandbar has raised $13 million from True Ventures, Upfront Ventures, and Betaworks to bring Stream to market as competition intensifies in next-generation voice-AI hardware.
Featured image: Credit: Sandbar
