Aina unveils a smart ring with a screen, joystick and microphone

Hardware startup Aina has introduced a smart ring designed to control AI agents and other digital applications. The device includes a screen, joystick, microphone and speaker, allowing users to view phone notifications, navigate controls, take calls and interact with software through gestures. It can also control music and smart-home devices such as Apple TV.

The ring’s microphone supports note-taking, prompts for agents and reminders. On a Mac, users can dictate text through Wispr Flow or Aina’s own dictation engine. The company developed the product after making Mirage, a three-key controller that could assign functions according to the application on a computer screen, including controls for Google Meet.

Aina is accepting preorders from Thursday at an early-bird price of $399. The price will later increase to $499, and shipping is planned for January 2027. The company raised $5.5 million in July. Aina founder Apoorv Shankar said the ring was designed as an interface for interacting with proactive agents rather than opening applications manually. Software and features are still being developed.