Button AI ex Apple Engineers Revolutionize Hardware Design with a Screenless Smartphone Replacement Focused on Low Latency Large Language Models and Direct Accessibility
As competition heats up to integrate neural networks into everyday objects, former Apple Vision Pro developers Chris Nolet and Ryan Burgoyne have entered the fray with their own hardware solution: Button. Reported by Wired, the device is marketed not as an accessory to the smartphone, but as a direct successor to a design philosophy the founders argue is obsolete. By stripping away screens and complex interfaces, the duo aims to build a dedicated conduit for large language models that functions independently of the pre-AI hardware ecosystem.
The hardware structure operates through a single button and Microphone and Localized Speaker which functions as its basic interface. The device connects to headphones and smart glasses and smartphones for audio feedback while its main focus is to achieve low latency. The device core value depends on its power to deliver quick answers to user questions which the device can solve within 0.5 seconds of its first use.
The hardware business model shows how current AI market divides between users who own their infrastructure and organizations that provide proprietary AI services. The company has established a monthly recurring revenue model which charges customers $7.99 for monthly access. The developers created an accessibility option which allows power users to use their personal API key without needing to pay the monthly subscription fee because it transforms the cost from a service provider to their own usage profile.
The United States currently offers Button for pre order at a price of $179. The Button device serves as a grassroots initiative which engineers developed after they helped create all Apple AI focused hardware projects. Consumers can purchase the product now although the initial product delivery period will start in December 2026.
