Generative AI and AR hardware firm Brilliant Labs has raised $3 million in seed funding. The funding round was led by Oculus co-founder Brendan Iribe, and Adam Cheyer, co-founder of Siri and Pebble. Plug & Play Ventures founder Eric Migicovsky also contributed, among others. The funding round comes after the successful launch of the company’s Monocle AR hardware. Monocle is an open-source device that integrates AR with AI.
Eric Migicovsky, Pebble founder and former partner at Y Combinator said, “As investors, we are excited to be part of Brilliant Labs’ journey in shaping the future of augmented reality with Monocle. Brilliant Labs’s commitment to enhancing people’s day-to-day lives with wearable AI, sparked by the support of a vibrant developer community, offers the confidence that Brilliant Labs is heralding a new future.”
Access ChatGPT with your eyes
Monocle is a developer kit that lets developers create next-gen generative AI apps for a ready-to-wear monocle. The device features a highly portable single-lens design that easily attaches to existing eyewear. Developers can build applications that interact directly with ChatGPT through the embedded microphone and computer vision-ready camera. The device also features an FPGA accelerator chip. Through using this device, the company aims to bring generative AI into the physical world, allowing for enhanced daily interactions. Monocle also boasts a six-hour battery life.
Brilliant Labs founder and CEO Bobak Tavangar said, “We believe that Generative AI is the key enabler for AR, so at Brilliant Labs, we’re building an open-source ecosystem to support developers and creatives reimagining the future, and Monocle is just the beginning. We’re excited to see what developers create with it. We’re thrilled to have the support of our investors as we usher in a new era of embodied intelligence – the intersection of AI and AR.”
Brilliant Labs is also announcing the launch of its first ChatGPT integration, arGPT. The ChatGPT integration allows users to interact with ChatGPT using only their eyes. According to the company, the integration is a breakthrough in human-machine interactions.
Adam Cheyer, co-founder of Siri said, “Brilliant Labs’ Monocle represents a significant leap forward in merging generative AI and augmented reality. It enables creators to unleash their creativity by seamlessly integrating their generative AI applications into the physical world through AR experiences. The team at Brilliant Labs has demonstrated a deep understanding of the potential of combining AR and AI, and their passion for empowering creators is evident in their product.”
Jack Brassell is a freelance journalist and aspiring novelist. Jack is a self-proclaimed nerd with a lifelong passion for storytelling. As an author, Jack writes mostly horror and young adult fantasy. Also an avid gamer, she works as the lead news editor at Hardcore Droid. When she isn't writing or playing games, she can often be found binge-watching Parks & Rec or The Office, proudly considering herself to be a cross between Leslie Knope and Pam Beasley.
