Persona, a US-based startup developing voice-enabled AI wearables, is preparing to begin shipments of its screenless Persona Band in December 2026. Aarav Garg, the company’s 20-year-old founding team member and Chief Hardware Officer, is leading hardware engineering, product development and manufacturing as the device moves towards mass production.
The wristband is designed to provide access to a personal AI assistant through voice interaction, without requiring a screen. The company is currently conducting sample production runs with manufacturing partners in China to test build quality, refine the design and identify potential issues before approving mass production.
Persona Band weighs 27 grams and features two microphones, a speaker and a 12-LED ring that indicates the device’s operating status. The company says the wearable is designed to provide up to five days of battery life and support more than 120 languages. The device is intended to work alongside Persona’s AI assistant, which can help users manage appointments, emails, notes and travel through natural conversation.
Mr Garg said the product’s compact design had created engineering challenges, particularly in fitting the speaker, dual-microphone system and battery into a small form factor. The company initially considered leaving out the speaker but decided to include it so users could receive responses directly from the wristband rather than relying on a phone.
The development process has also involved redesigning the strap mechanism to make it easier to put on, remove and change straps. Garg said simplifying these interactions required changes to the design and manufacturing process. Quality testing is now a key part of the production programme. Persona is testing units for water resistance and durability, including water-submersion checks and button testing involving 10,000 presses. The company is also assessing assembly consistency and product reliability before moving to large-scale manufacturing.
Mr Garg began building robots as a child, studied at Purdue University and later co-founded Omi, another AI wearable startup. At Persona, his responsibilities cover the transition from engineering prototypes to a product ready for customers. The company has raised US$10 million in a funding round led by Vine Ventures, with participation from Cory Levy and Collective Global. The funding round valued Persona at US$100 million. The company plans to use the capital to support product development and business expansion. Persona Band is available for preorder at US$179, with shipments planned for December 2026. The company says it intends to develop additional hardware products around its AI technology over the next 12 months.
Persona is a Miami-based AI wearable startup developing voice-enabled products designed to help people manage everyday tasks through natural conversation. Its first product, Persona Band, is a screenless wrist-worn device built around a conversational AI assistant.
