New open-ear wireless earbuds called HumanPods unveiled at CES 2025 offer voice access to different artificial intelligence personas with a tap, according to startup Natura Umana.
The new earphones, which also play music, of course, promise to deliver what the company calls “the closest experience to a telepathic connection with your technology” by offering direct access to AI assistance through simple touch controls. The company’s CEO provides a little video demo below (complete with a few bugs).
Natura Umana HumanPods
The new release is one of several earphones at CES showcasing AI functionality. At the heart of Natura Umana HumanPods lies NatureOS, Natura Umana’s proprietary operating system for iOS and Android that powers a suite of AI personas called “AI People.” It is also compatible with voice assistants like Siri, and can also access other AI language models. One of the stated benefits is reduced screen time for users.
HumanPods’ digital agents are designed to emulate human behavior and conversational nuances. They come with distinct personalities, voices and areas of expertise. Users can interact with specialized AI personas ranging from therapists and fitness trainers to gardeners and travel guides, all through natural voice conversations, the company said.
Access to ‘AI People’ led by ‘Nature,’ plus other language models
A primary AI agent named Nature orchestrates interactions with the system. It analyzes user requests and delegates them to the most appropriate AI Person for assistance. Beyond these proprietary AI agents, Humanpods also provides seamless access to established language models including ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude, eliminating the need to manually operate smartphone apps.
The hardware design prioritizes both comfort and functionality, according to Natura Umana. The open-ear configuration prevents canal pressure while maintaining stability through an adjustable hook system available in five sizes. This design choice allows for extended wear without discomfort.
Watch a demo
NatureOS + HumanPods demo, it still has a few bugs, but if you look closely you can see what the future looks like pic.twitter.com/O2XlMEEjMJ
— Natura Umana (@NaturaUmanaAI) December 28, 2024
Strong battery life and audio specs
The earbuds deliver impressive battery life, offering nine hours of use on a single charge, with the included charging case providing up to 24 hours of additional power. A quick 15-minute charge option ensures minimal downtime.
Technical specifications include a custom 14.8mm driver for superior audio quality. ENC and dual-mic technology can reduce up to 90% of environmental noise, the company said. The system features dynamic bass enhancement that automatically adjusts levels for consistent sound quality across various volumes. Touch-sensitive controls allow users to play, pause, adjust volume and activate voice assistance through intuitive gestures.
NatureOS app
The accompanying NatureOS app serves as a comprehensive interface, enabling users to send text, images, documents and voice notes to both the proprietary AI People and third-party language models.
This versatility allows the system to assist with various tasks, from analyzing plant health through photo recognition to providing mental health support through conversation.
While the official release date remains unannounced, Natura Umana confirms HumanPods will be available for public testing at CES 2025, with a planned market release in the first quarter of 2025.
