AI wearables are quietly recording everything. Is it legal? And do
you consent?
Warning, San Francisco: That cute necklace your coworker is wearing
might be recording you.
A crop of startups is selling stealthy AI-powered recording devices
and software that’s becoming increasingly popular across Silicon
Valley. Regardless of whether you’re in a contentious work meeting,
having coffee on a first date, or enjoying the wild abandon of a
house party, there’s a growing likelihood that someone is listening.
“My general sense is that we should assume we are being recorded at
all times,” said Clara Brenner, a partner at venture capital firm
Urban Innovation Fund. “Of course, this is a horrible way to live
your life.”
Some of these devices are wearables masquerading as fashionable
pendants, like those made by Limitless, or discreet lapel pins,
like those by Plaud. Bee has a device that resembles a Fitbit.
Others are apps that run quietly in the background of phones and
laptops, like Cluely, Granola, and OpenAI’s new ChatGPT Record
feature.
It can be hard to know when one is being used. Some devices flash
or light up when they’re recording; others glow when they’re
switched off. Most automatically generate AI transcripts and audio recordings of everything with which their owner interacts.
Why would anyone voluntarily wear these roving surveillance
devices? It’s not necessarily to catch people saying things they’ll
regret. Enthusiasts report that the recorders help them stay
“present” in meetings, outsource busywork, and act as a perpetually available collaborator.
But many who work in offices where the devices are becoming the
norm report that they have begun to self-censor, worried about
every offhand comment being etched into an AI-generated transcript. Meanwhile, lawyers warn that it’s only a matter of time before
these nonconsensual records and audio files become liabilities in
court.
The always-listening crowd
For many in the tech industry, AI recording tools have become a way
of life.
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<https://sfstandard.com/2025/08/05/ai-wearables-recording-devices/>
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