In a groundbreaking development for conversational AI, Sesame, a startup founded by former Oculus CEO Brendan Iribe, has raised $250 million in a Series B funding round to advance its mission of transforming human-computer interaction.
The company, backed by prominent investors like Sequoia Capital and Spark Capital, also announced the launch of an invite-only iOS beta, offering a sneak peek into its innovative AI-powered technology.
The Vision Behind Sesame AI
Sesame aims to redefine wearable tech with its AI-powered smartglasses, designed to enable natural, humanlike voice interactions, moving beyond traditional screen-based interfaces.
This vision builds on the legacy of its founders, who revolutionized virtual reality with Oculus VR before its acquisition by Facebook (now Meta) in 2014 for $2 billion.
A New Era of Conversational Technology
The startup’s focus on audio-first AI positions it as a potential game-changer in a market increasingly hungry for seamless, hands-free communication tools.
Unlike augmented reality glasses that prioritize visual overlays, Sesame’s technology emphasizes voice interaction, aiming to integrate effortlessly into daily life, from personal assistance to professional applications.
Impact on the Tech Industry
The $250M funding round signals strong investor confidence in Sesame’s potential to disrupt the conversational AI space, challenging giants like Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa with a more intuitive approach.
Industry experts suggest this could accelerate the adoption of wearable AI, potentially reshaping how we interact with devices in workplaces, homes, and public spaces.
Looking to the Future
As Sesame rolls out its beta, the tech community eagerly awaits user feedback on whether the smartglasses can deliver on their promise of humanlike dialogue, a feat that has eluded many competitors.
Success in this phase could pave the way for broader commercial rollout, positioning Sesame as a leader in the next wave of wearable technology.
However, challenges remain, including privacy concerns around always-listening devices and the need to balance functionality with user comfort in wearable form factors.
For now, Sesame’s journey marks a bold step forward, blending the expertise of VR pioneers with the frontier of AI innovation, as reported by TechCrunch.
Andrew Lee
