Silicon Valley investor Kevin Rose has a brutally honest take on the current wave of AI hardware that might make tech enthusiasts pause and reconsider their latest gadget purchase. In a recent industry discussion, Rose shared a provocative rule for evaluating AI wearables: if someone wearing the device makes you want to punch them, it’s probably not worth investing in – or buying.

Rose, a veteran investor with a track record of successful investments in companies like Peloton and Fitbit, is deeply skeptical of the current trend of always-on, always-listening AI devices. His concern goes beyond technical capabilities and dives into the social and emotional implications of these technologies.

Drawing from personal experience, Rose highlighted the privacy concerns inherent in AI wearables that constantly record conversations. “A lot of it is just like, ‘Let’s listen to the entire conversation,’” he explained. “And to me, that breaks a lot of these social constructs that we have with humans around privacy”.

He’s not just theorizing – Rose has tested multiple AI wearables himself, including the now-defunct Humane AI pendant. His breaking point came during a personal argument with his wife, realizing that using an AI device to “win” a discussion was not just inappropriate, but fundamentally unhealthy.

Moreover, Rose warns against the indiscriminate application of AI to everything. “We tend to bolt AI onto everything and it’s ruining the world,” he said, citing examples like photo editing tools that can erase meaningful elements of personal memories.

Despite his criticisms, Rose remains optimistic about AI’s potential, particularly in entrepreneurship. He sees technology dramatically lowering barriers to entry for new businesses, with tools like AI coding assistants enabling faster and more efficient product development.

Ultimately, Rose’s perspective serves as a critical reminder: technology should enhance human interaction, not replace or undermine it. As AI continues to evolve, the most successful innovations will be those that respect social boundaries and genuinely improve our lives.

For tech enthusiasts and investors alike, Rose’s advice is clear: before jumping on the latest AI hardware trend, ask yourself if the device truly adds value or simply creates social friction.