At CEATEC 2024, JVCKENWOOD introduced a prototype of an AI-powered wireless earbud with a built-in camera, designed to combine audio, visual input, and AI processing in a single wearable device. The concept allowed users to interact hands-free with an AI assistant based on what the built-in camera captured, without needing to use a smartphone.
At CEATEC 2025, the company presented an updated prototype featuring a revised design and two new demonstrations that explored practical applications of this technology in everyday life and workplace settings.
Although the model shown this year was still a prototype, the updated design looked far closer to a finished product than the bulky early-stage version displayed in 2024. The new single earbud had a cleaner, more integrated appearance that better reflected how the concept could evolve into a commercially viable device.
The JVC KENWOOD booth attracted significant attention, and the AI earbud with built-in camera demos were among the most popular experiences at CEATEC 2025. The line to try the prototype was long, and I had to wait patiently to get a slot to experience both demos firsthand — a clear indication of the strong interest from industry professionals and enterprise visitors in these AI-powered applications delivered through this unique form factor.
Supporting Seniors and People with Cognitive or Visual Challenges
With its AI-driven single earbud, JVCKENWOOD aims to assist elderly users, people with dementia, and those with visual impairments.
By combining the built-in camera, AI interpretation, and GPS data from a connected smartphone, the device helped users navigate safely, recognize familiar people, and communicate more effectively.
Families and caregivers could use the companion app to monitor activity and track location, helping ensure safety and maintain contact with users who live independently.
AI-Powered Recognition to Remember People You Have Met a Long Time Ago
The AI earbud prototype with built-in camera was comfortable to wear over the ear
In the first demo, the AI assisted users in recalling the names of people they had previously met.
For example, when encountering someone with whom a business card had been exchanged, the camera could identify the person and provide their name through the earbud.
If the relevant data had already been stored, the system could also recognize acquaintances encountered in public, offering a practical example of how wearable AI could support memory recall.
In this demo, the large screen on the right recreates a meeting with someone I met six months earlier. The smaller screen on the left shows what the earbud’s camera sees, with the AI displaying the person’s name.
From my experience on site: on the screen, a woman appeared who I was told I had supposedly met six months earlier. My JVC KENWOOD AI earbud had previously captured her photo along with her business card information.
To trigger the facial recognition process, I greeted her with “Konnichiwa” (Good afternoon in Japanese). In response, the AI system identified her face and displayed her name on the connected smartphone, demonstrating how the device could recall people and link them to stored personal or business information.
AI-Driven Protection from Harassment for Customer-Facing Employees
At CEATEC 2025, JVC KENWOOD also demonstrated how the AI earbud with Built-in Camera could help protect employees in retail or service environments when dealing with abusive or aggressive customers. The demonstration illustrated how AI, visual recognition, and communication tools could work together to improve workplace safety and enable rapid assistance from managers and coworkers.
Demo: the large screen displays a simulated case of customer harassment, while I am wearing the AI earbud with an integrated camera.
In the scenario, an employee wearing the AI earbud encountered an angry customer. The earbud’s integrated microphone and miniature camera continuously monitored the conversation. When the AI detected specific inappropriate or offensive words coming from the complaining customer, it automatically started recording the footage (video and audio) while also capturing a still image and storing the transcription of the dialogue. This information was transmitted to a smartphone application connecting the employee to their manager and colleagues.
I experienced the demo myself, wearing the AI earbud while the abusive-customer interaction played on a video screen in front of me. During the simulation, I observed the manager’s smartphone receiving real-time message updates, including audio transcriptions recorded by the earbud, and photos taken by the built-in camera. The system showed how managers and coworkers could monitor the situation remotely and respond quickly to support the employee.
I can easily imagine large retail and restaurant chains — such as Walmart, Target, McDonald’s, Subway, or Starbucks — adopting similar AI-powered solutions to protect their employees from customer abuse, automatically document incidents, and reduce stress for frontline workers.
Demo: The manager’s smartphone shows a real-time transcript and captured images from the interaction between the customer and the worker.”
The setup used Science Arts’ Buddycom IP wireless communication platform, which enabled the captured data — including the still image, transcript, line-of-sight information, and triggered video — to be securely shared among team members. The earbud used a wireless communication protocol for communication purposes.
This version of the system remains a prototype, though it was smaller and fully wireless compared to the earlier 2024 model. JVC KENWOOD plans to move into trials with industry partners, but they could not share any more information regarding market release
Comparison with Other AI-Driven Wearable Devices
Compared with other AI-driven wearable devices that primarily focus on photo capture, object recognition, and language translation, the JVC KENWOOD AI earbud with built-in camera takes a more human-centric, safety-oriented approach.
While many vision-based wearables were designed mainly for content creation or on-demand image analysis, JVC KENWOOD’s concept integrated audio, vision, and contextual AI to support real-time assistance, communication, and protection in everyday scenarios.
Its trigger-based video and audio recording, voice-driven interface, and future multi-language support extend the use of AI wearables beyond personal convenience — aiming to deliver tangible benefits for accessibility, safety, and social interaction rather than lifestyle or entertainment.
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