Meta Expands Horizons: The Acquisition of Limitless, an AI Innovator
In an exciting turn of events, Meta has officially acquired Limitless, an AI startup previously known as Rewind. The acquisition was announced on Friday via Limitless’ official website. Known for its innovative AI-powered necklace designed to capture and document conversations, Limitless has decided to halt the sale of its hardware products while committing to provide support for current users over the next year.
This transition marks a significant shift for subscribers, who will now benefit from an automatic upgrade to the Unlimited Plan, eliminating their previous subscription fees. However, certain functionalities will be phased out, including the proprietary software previously known as “Rewind,” which allowed users to create a searchable record of their desktop activities.
Founded by Brett Bejcek and Dan Siroker—who co-founded Optimizely—Limitless embarked on its mission to merge AI with wearable technology just last year. The signature Limitless pendant, retailing at $99, could be worn like a necklace or clipped to clothing, positioning it in a unique niche among existing AI hardware, which also features devices like the controversial AI pendant known as “Friend.”
In its announcement, Limitless expressed enthusiasm for joining Meta’s vision of making personal superintelligence accessible to everyone. This endeavor aligns well with Meta’s current focus, which includes developing augmented reality and AI-enabled eyewear, such as the Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta.
The decision to pivot followed observations of intensified competition within the market, particularly from larger entities like OpenAI and Meta itself, who are also venturing into hardware solutions. As Limitless co-founder Dan Siroker noted in the announcement, “When we started Limitless five years ago, the world was very different… We’re now building a future that seems inevitable.”
In a follow-up statement, Meta expressed excitement about the acquisition, highlighting that the Limitless team will bolster its wearables department within Reality Labs. Although the specifics of the integration remain under wraps, it signifies Meta’s commitment to advancing AI-enabled wearable technology.
For existing users of Limitless, the company will enable data export options, allowing them to either download their transcripts and information or choose to delete their data through the app.
Limitless has successfully attracted over $33 million in funding from prominent investors, including a16z, First Round Capital, and NEA, establishing a strong financial foundation prior to this latest venture.
As Limitless embarks on this new chapter under the Meta umbrella, the future of AI in wearable tech seems more promising than ever, blending innovation and practicality in ways that could redefine our daily experiences.