I couldn't get the Compass to work. Despite its 4.6 rating and 21 reviews suggesting people like it, I struggled to make it function properly. The device came with no accessories or instructions, making it difficult to set up.

When I tried to use it, the recording would get stuck and never complete. I sat through a 45-minute presentation, but when I tried to end the recording, the app just spun endlessly without saving anything. I attempted it again at another event, but got the same result - no recordings saved.

The Compass app did detect the device, and I could see it was listening when unmuted. However, I simply could not get it to successfully record and save any of the conversations or presentations I attended.

Overall, the Compass was the most bare-bones of the devices I tested, and it ultimately did not work for me. While the positive reviews suggest it may work well for others, my experience left me disappointed and unable to rely on this device to capture important discussions.

The Pla Note pen is a more expensive option at $152, down from its normal price of $169. It offers some interesting features, but also has its fair share of drawbacks.

The pen comes with a variety of accessories, including a necklace hanger, a magnetic backing, and a bracelet holder. This versatility in how you can wear the device is a nice touch.

In terms of performance, the Pla Note pen seemed to record conversations reasonably well. However, I did experience some issues with accidental recordings when the pen was in my backpack, and the battery life wasn't always reliable, requiring frequent charging.

The companion app provides a decent set of features, including the ability to review transcripts, access AI-generated insights, and even listen back to the recorded audio. The app's mind map visualization is a nice touch, though it only works in vertical view.

Unfortunately, the app's chat functionality didn't work reliably for me, often returning network errors when I tried to interact with the transcripts. This was a frustrating limitation.

Overall, the Pla Note pen is a promising device, but the battery life and app issues hold it back from being a truly seamless experience. The variety of wearing options is a plus, but the flaws make it difficult to wholeheartedly recommend.

The Bee is the least expensive option among the AI-powered wearables tested, coming in at only $50. While it may lack some of the flashier features of its more expensive counterparts, the Bee shines in its ability to continuously record your day-to-day activities without drawing much attention.

One of the Bee's standout qualities is its impressive battery life. The author found that they could wear the Bee for days on end without realizing it was still recording, thanks to its discreet and unobtrusive design. The app provides a helpful daily summary, highlighting key conversations and events, though it did occasionally pick up on nearby discussions that were not directly related to the user.

The Bee's app offers a clean and intuitive interface, allowing you to easily review your recorded conversations and even generate a to-do list based on the information gathered. While the transcription quality may not be as polished as some of the more premium options, the Bee's affordability and seamless integration make it a compelling choice for those seeking a reliable and unobtrusive note-taking solution.

The main drawbacks of the Bee include the potential for accidental recordings and the risk of losing the small, compact device. However, these issues may be addressed in future iterations of the product, and the overall value proposition of the Bee makes it a strong contender in the AI wearable market.

The Limitless pendant is the most expensive option among the AI wearables tested, priced at $199 for the pendant alone or $399 for the pendant with an unlimited plan. While it offers 20 hours of free recording per month, additional hours cost $19 per month for the standard plan or $29 per month for unlimited usage.

The author found the Limitless pendant to be somewhat awkward to use, as it requires clipping the device to one's clothing, which can look strange, especially when wearing t-shirts rather than button-up shirts. Additionally, the battery life was relatively short, lasting only about a day before needing to be recharged.

The Limitless app provides basic functionality, allowing the user to view recorded conversations and transcripts, as well as ask AI-powered questions about the day's events. However, the app feels rather bare-bones compared to some of the other options.

Overall, the Limitless pendant's high price, inconvenient form factor, and average battery life make it a less appealing choice compared to some of the other AI wearables tested, unless the user specifically requires the unlimited recording plan.

The Otter app is a convenient software-based solution for recording and transcribing meetings and conferences. Unlike the wearable devices, the Otter app can be used simply by placing your phone next to you during a session.

The free plan offers 300 monthly transcription minutes, although it limits conversations to 30 minutes each. The paid plan at $8.33 per month provides 20 hours of monthly transcriptions with 90 minutes per conversation.

The key advantage of the Otter app is that it allows you to keep your phone free for other tasks during the recording, rather than having to wear a dedicated device. It provides real-time transcription and summarization, as well as the ability to search and review the full transcript.

However, the app may drain your phone's battery life more quickly due to the constant listening and transcription. Additionally, you may need to be more conscious of your phone's placement to ensure clear audio capture.

Overall, the Otter app offers a convenient software-based solution for recording and transcribing meetings and events, especially for those who prefer to keep their hands free during such sessions.

After testing a variety of AI-powered wearable devices and apps, the author shares their insights and recommendations:

• The Compass device was difficult to set up and use, with the author unable to get it to work properly despite multiple attempts.

• The Pla Note pen had good features like the various wearing options, but suffered from battery life issues and occasional accidental recordings. The app, however, provided useful transcription and summarization capabilities.

• The B device was the author's favorite overall, with its ability to continuously record for days without the user realizing it. The app also provided helpful daily summaries, though it sometimes picked up irrelevant conversations.

• The Limitless pendant was found to be awkward to wear and one of the more expensive options, with shorter battery life compared to the other devices.

• As an alternative, the author suggests using a simple voice recorder and then leveraging free transcription services like Otter.ai, 11 Labs, or Assembly AI to convert the audio to text.

The main downsides of the wearable devices were the need to remember to charge them, the potential for awkward conversations when others notice them, and the risk of losing the small devices. Overall, the B device seemed to provide the best balance of features and value for the author's needs.