New AI Key lets artificial intelligence control your phone for $79

WEB DESK: A new gadget called AI Key has come to attention after its unveiling by Adam Cohen Hillel, a developer who has reportedly worked in Israeli Military Intelligence. The device, promoted in a video posted on X, claims to revolutionise the way people use artificial intelligence with their smartphones.

What the AI Key does

In the video, Hillel describes the AI Key as a small device that plugs directly into an iPhone via USB-C, allowing a remote AI system to carry out tasks on behalf of the user. From sending messages and navigating maps to managing social media and even taking photos, the device is pitched as a hands-free assistant with virtually no limits.

The gadget comes in four colours: coral, midnight black, eggshell white and deaf pink, and is available for pre-order at $79.

Convenience meets controversy

While the promotional video highlights the AI Key’s sleek design and simplicity, it also raises pressing concerns. By granting an external AI complete control over a smartphone, users could be exposing themselves to significant risks:

• Data security: The device could potentially access personal messages, private photos, and sensitive app data.
• Surveillance risks: Because the AI can interact across the entire phone, critics argue it could become a tool for spying or data harvesting.
• Trust issues: Hillel himself acknowledges in the video that the device is essentially “how you give an AI access to your most precious device, your digital home, your phone.”

Background and scrutiny

Adding to the debate is Hillel’s reported background in Israeli Military Intelligence. While this experience may suggest technical expertise, it also raises red flags about whether the device could be engineered with hidden surveillance capabilities.

Is it safe?

At present, there is no independent verification of the AI Key’s security safeguards, if any exist. Experts note that without transparency on how data is processed, stored, or protected, it is impossible to guarantee the device’s safety.

The bigger question

The launch of AI Key comes at a time when artificial intelligence is rapidly being woven into daily life. But it also underlines a growing tension: should convenience come at the cost of privacy? Until third-party reviews or security audits shed light on its inner workings, the AI Key is likely to remain as controversial as it is innovative.