Limitless Acquired by Meta, Hardware Support to End

Limitless, the AI company previously operating as Rewind, has been acquired by Meta, as announced on the company’s official website Friday. The firm, known for its AI-powered pendant designed to record conversations, has stated it will cease sales of its hardware and will continue to support current customers for one year.

Subscription Changes and Software Discontinuation

Existing customers will no longer be required to pay subscription fees and will be transitioned to the Unlimited Plan for the interim period. Additional features and services will be phased out, notably the desktop recording software, “Rewind,” which transformed user activity into a searchable database.

From Desktop Recording to Wearable AI

The company, initially founded by Brett Bejcek and Dan Siroker – also a co-founder and former CEO of Optimizely – shifted its focus to AI device manufacturing last year. Its Limitless pendant was offered at a price of $99. This wearable device could be attached to clothing similar to a wireless microphone or worn as a necklace.

A Growing Market for AI Hardware

The Limitless pendant is among a number of AI hardware options currently available, including the Friend AI pendant, which received a less favorable reception. Meta’s announcement highlighted a shared vision with Limitless: to make “personal superintelligence” accessible to everyone, with a particular emphasis on developing AI-enabled wearable technology.

Supporting Meta’s Wearable Initiatives

Limitless indicated its role will be to support Meta’s existing product lines, rather than contributing to the development of a new AI pendant within Meta’s portfolio. Currently, Meta is concentrating on AR/AI glasses, such as the Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta, as well as in-lens AI glasses like the Meta Ray-Ban Display.

Increased Competition and Market Dynamics

The company acknowledged that intensifying competition within the market presented challenges, particularly with larger companies like OpenAI and Meta independently developing their own hardware solutions.

A Shift in the AI Landscape

Dan Siroker explained in the official announcement that the environment surrounding Limitless’s inception five years ago was markedly different. “AI was a pipe dream to many,” he wrote. “Hardware startups were considered unfundable, and a business that did both AI and hardware would have been considered ludicrous.” He continued, noting that the situation has evolved, and the future they are building now appears attainable.

Meta’s Statement on the Acquisition

Meta released a statement to TechCrunch via email, expressing excitement about Limitless joining the company to accelerate the development of AI-enabled wearables. The tech giant did not disclose further details regarding its plans, except to confirm that the Limitless team will be integrated into the wearables organization within Reality Labs.

Data Export and Deletion Options

Limitless will provide its customers with the ability to export their data, or alternatively, users can choose to delete their data directly through the application.

Funding and Investment

The startup had successfully secured over $33 million in funding from investors, including a16z, First Round Capital, and NEA.

This article was updated following publication to include a statement from Meta.