Meta Acquires Limitless, an AI Wearables Startup Backed by Sam Altman

Meta Platforms Inc. has announced its acquisition of Limitless Inc., a startup that developed AI-powered wearable devices designed to record and analyze conversations.

The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Prior to the acquisition, Limitless had raised $33 million from investors including First Round Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, NEA, and Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI Group PBC—a company with which Meta competes in the large language model space.

Headquartered in Denver, Limitless created a compact wearable resembling a pair of small earbuds. Measuring just 1.25 inches wide, the device can be magnetically clipped to a shirt or worn as a pendant. It records users’ spoken interactions, transcribes them, and leverages artificial intelligence to extract key insights.

The device uses an array of miniature microphones equipped with beamforming technology. This technique enables the microphones to capture audio only from a specific direction, effectively filtering out background noise and enhancing sound clarity.

All components—including the microphone system and a battery that lasts up to 100 hours on a single charge—are housed in a waterproof enclosure. Recharging is accomplished via a USB-C cable.

Before the acquisition, Limitless sold the wearable for $99 and offered subscription plans that expanded the monthly audio processing capacity. The company also maintained a desktop application called Rewind, which featured AI-powered search capabilities for navigating files stored on a user’s computer.

Following the acquisition, Meta will discontinue the Rewind application. Limitless will also stop accepting new orders for its namesake wearable but intends to continue supporting existing devices through at least December 2026. Current users will receive complimentary access to the company’s highest-tier subscription plan, which removes rate limits on AI transcription services.

Meta may relaunch the Limitless device as an accessory within its growing lineup of AI-enabled smart glasses. The parent company of Facebook recently introduced Meta Ray-Ban Displays, which already includes a companion wearable: the Neural Band, a wristband that allows gesture-based control of the glasses.

With established products in both smart eyewear and intelligent pendants, Meta’s next strategic move could involve developing or acquiring a smart ring. Existing smart rings on the market are primarily focused on fitness tracking, incorporating sensors to monitor heart rate and collect workout-related data.