The Deep View: Conversations #29 - How AI could reshape human memory and attention - Bobak Tavangar
4 snips
Jan 30, 2026 
Bobak Tavangar, CEO and co-founder of Brilliant Labs and former Apple product leader, discusses AI glasses and a memory-focused Halo concept. He covers starting an AI hardware startup, open-source design, building memory agents, privacy-first local inference, and the challenges of hardware productization. The conversation highlights human-centered design, attention, and practical tradeoffs in building wearables.
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Start Small To Climb The Hardware Mountain
- New form factors should start simple, low-power, and focused to generate learning cheaply.
- Bobak likens it to an "iPod for AR": do one or two things extremely well first.
Building Through COVID And Chip Shortages
- Monocle development was slowed by COVID disruptions and chip shortages, stretching timelines.
- Bobak recounts monitoring secondhand distributor sites at 3 a.m. to find parts during the semiconductor crisis.
Fund Hardware With Experienced Investors
- Avoid friends-and-family funding for hardware; seek angels and early VCs who understand product risk.
- Keep costs low and iterate on fumes when investors shy away from consumer hardware.