Ex-Apple Engineers Bet on a Single Button for AI

A new hardware project from former Apple engineers is taking a minimalist approach to generative AI. Chris Nolet and Ryan Burgoyne, who worked on the Vision Pro, have introduced a device called Button. Available for preorder at $179, it’s a small, brushed-aluminum gadget that deliberately echoes the design of an iPod Shuffle. Press it, and an integrated AI assistant listens and responds through a speaker or connected Bluetooth headphones.

The creators position Button as a contrast to more ambitious, and often troubled, AI wearables. They emphasize two core principles: privacy and speed. The device activates only when the button is pressed, avoiding constant ambient listening. Nolet cited a personal experience where he discovered someone had recorded an entire conversation with a wearable as a key motivator for this design choice. “If people are just recording all of our conversations, I think it feels a little icky to me,” he said.

Regarding performance, the team aims for near-instant responses, a direct critique of devices like the Humane Ai Pin, which faced criticism for lag. In a demonstration, queries were answered within a second. The button also serves as an immediate off switch.

Nolet openly acknowledges the Apple-inspired design philosophy. “The iPod shuffle? Really cool. That's where the idea started,” he noted, arguing that many current devices feel outdated for voice-based AI interaction. He references analyst Ben Thompson’s writings on hardware cycles, suggesting Button could be to generative AI what the iPhone was to the mobile internet—a purpose-built form factor.

“We are not trying to replace the phone,” Nolet stated. “It's a complementary device. But the iPhone has one or two feet squarely in the past. It is built for an age before voice AI.” As OpenAI and others explore their own hardware, Nolet believes this search for AI’s ideal physical interface is inevitable. Whether a simple button is the answer remains to be seen.

Source: Wired gear