The WeWalk Good Cane 2 might be one in all AI’s few good use instances at CES 2025

WeWalk launched a brand new model of its sensible cane for folks with visible impairments at CES 2025, bringing a redesign that addresses most of the first mannequin’s shortcomings and provides AI options and extra superior sensors from TDK. It’s positioned as an alternative choice to the standard foldable white cane. Co-founder Kursat Ceylan, who has been blind since beginning, says Good Cane 2 could make mobility simpler and safer, providing options like turn-by-turn navigation and impediment detection, together with a ChatGPT-powered voice assistant that places on-demand info in customers’ fingers with out the necessity for them to additionally juggle a smartphone.

The WeWalk Good Cane 2 has a slimmer deal with than its predecessor, which ought to make for a extra snug grip, and the corporate says it’s now about as light-weight as a regular white cane. It has tactile buttons to be extra user-friendly, eliminating the touchpad of the earlier mannequin that some folks discovered to be troublesome to make use of. Ceylan says it may be utilized in totally different climate circumstances, not simply when it’s heat and dry (WeWalk describes the brand new cane as “rainwater-resistant”). The battery life is about 20 hours.

“You possibly can fold and unfold it once you want it. There is a speaker, a microphone, impediment detection know-how and a flashlight to make visually impaired folks extra seen at night time. And likewise it has movement sensors in itself to supply a extra correct navigation expertise,” Ceylan defined.

Below the hood, the WeWalk Good Cane 2 has an ultrasonic time-of-flight sensor, an inertial measurement unit with six-axis movement monitoring, a pulse density modulated microphone and a barometric stress sensor from electronics firm TDK. When it detects one thing forward, it alerts the person with each haptic and audio suggestions, in line with Ceylan.

He demonstrated this within the very cramped, noisy surroundings of the Las Vegas Conference Heart, and I used to be in a position to hear over the group when the cane advised him he was approaching an impediment — on this case, a carpeted step marked with yellow and black tape that I noticed a number of CES attendees stumble over throughout our dialog. It can also connect with headphones by way of Bluetooth.

Paired along with your smartphone, it can provide navigation directions and details about your environment, in addition to public transportation choices. “You possibly can hear the names of shops and eating places you might be passing by,” he says. In Starbucks, the place he isn’t in a position to learn the menu, he says he may ask the assistant in the event that they promote chocolate croissants.

“You needn’t maintain your smartphone anymore while you’re going someplace,” Ceylan mentioned. “You possibly can put it into your pocket after which you may get all the data by means of your WeWalk sensible cane.” There’s a smartphone interface for many who need to use it, although, which he held up by means of the demo so I may see what was happening on the opposite finish. Not like the overwhelming majority of merchandise I’ve encountered at CES this 12 months that appear to incorporate AI or ChatGPT for no actual purpose apart from the truth that they’ll, this truly felt like a state of affairs the place it is sensible and will even be fairly useful.

Because it’s model new, we don’t but understand how all of it will translate to real-world use. Pre-orders at the moment are open for the WeWalk Good Cane 2, and the primary wave is anticipated to start out delivery earlier than the top of this month. There are two worth fashions: $850 for the sensible cane plus a subscription for the voice assistant that prices $4.99 monthly, or $1150 altogether with no extra subscription price for full use of the AI. WeWalk Good Cane 2 is out there internationally.

The London-based startup additionally has a partnership with the Canadian Nationwide Institute for the Blind (CNIB) that kicks off in February, when the group will begin utilizing the WeWalk Good Cane 2 for its cane coaching program. The purpose is to assemble significant knowledge for instructors to allow them to actually perceive how individuals are utilizing mobility canes (AI-enabled or in any other case), and assist them get probably the most out of the instruments. That, Ceylan says, “is so vital, as a result of the higher you get round, the higher you have interaction in life.”

Replace, January 9 2025, 11:55AM ET: This story has been up to date so as to add particulars on the sensible cane’s battery life.