The news: Samsung is exploring innovative new wearable formats, including smart jewelry.

• Won-joon Choi, Samsung’s COO of mobile experience, told CNN that AI advancements could power a “new wave” of devices beyond the smartphone.
• “We believe it should be wearable, something (that) you don’t need to carry. … It could be something that you wear: glasses, earrings, watches, rings, and sometimes (a) necklace,” Choi said.

A challenging market: Samsung could have trouble ahead in the alternative wearables space because many haven’t taken off—think Humane’s failed Ai Pin and Rabbit’s underused R1. Part of the hurdle is the prevalence of on-device AI, which makes smartphones a convenient, all-in-one AI platform.

Samsung’s plan: The South Korean tech company is aiming for a device that would complement—not replace—smartphones, similar to how smart watches function.

Expanding into jewelry formats beyond its smart ring, could encourage adoption without competing directly with its established product lineup, like its recently released Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 phones.

Why reinvent the wheel? Smart glasses, like those from the Ray-Ban Meta partnership, are achieving mainstream adoption. So why is Samsung experimenting with smart earrings and other novel wearables?

• “We are actively working on glasses, but some people do not want to wear glasses because they change their look … so we are also exploring other types of devices,” Choi said.
• While some startups like Peripherii and Incora Health are innovating with smart earrings, the market remains small and relatively untested.

Our take: As the shift toward hands-free, voice-first wearables accelerates, companies should start building applications designed for screenless experiences like voice-driven customer service tools, workforce productivity assistants, or sponsored fitness programs.