Layer’s PiA Reimagines AI Through a Human Lens

The assistive intelligence ecosystem, which has been produced in partnership with UK-based company Complete Fabrication, includes a smartphone, wearable camera module and biometric earbuds. Featuring sensors on the pulse point of the inner ear, the earbuds track biometrics, like body temperature and heart rate, while the camera module – which can be worn as a brooch or attached to the smartphone component – gathers environmental data. Both are augmented by the phone’s AI system, which compiles and analyses the data collected and offers bespoke recommendations and contextual information.  
 
Rather than being driven only by voice activation – as with many AI devices – the system is intended as an immersive digital experience that uses a visual avatar to connect with users and the external environment. Continuously updating depending on visual, audio and user biometric data, PiA offers suggestions, including meditation recommendations for better sleep, custom activity coaching and navigation advice using video footage overlaid on a map.

“PiA was born from a desire to bring emotion to artificial intelligence,” said Benjamin Hubert, founder of Layer. “By weaving emotion and humanity into the fabric of speculative AI, PiA transforms the relationship between user and technology [...] and makes AI feel more human and connected to us.” See Mood-Boosting Tech for further insights.  
 
Leaning away from the traditionally industrial designs of AI hardware, Layer drew inspiration from the natural world for PiA’s design. Crafted from recycled glass, the tactile devices take design cues from jewellery, emphasising the studio’s intention for its intelligent assistant to seamlessly integrate into users’ lives.
 
As explored in Meet the Super Optimisers, a growing cohort is seeking greater control over their lives through data-led recommendations that maximise efficiency. Intelligent devices like PiA pose a key opportunity for brands to connect with these consumers and offer an intuitive system for seamless tracking and analysis. Furthermore, the biophilic design cues that lend PiA its decorative, friendly appearance exemplify the trend towards wellbeing-enhancing interaction design, as outlined in our A/W 26/27 Design Direction Enchant.