Button Computer makes Button, a wearable AI device that you press to talk to. The small clip-on hardware activates only when physically pressed, then responds to voice queries in roughly half a second. The company frames it as building the conversational computer from science fiction, starting with a single button.
The device uses a press-to-talk interface designed for speed and privacy: its microphones are active only while the button is held, so it is not always listening. It has a built-in speaker, supports Bluetooth headphones, and connects to the internet via Bluetooth through a paired phone, with iPhone support at launch and Android planned later. The architecture was built from the ground up for AI interaction rather than adapted from older designs.
Button is priced at $179 (from a $229 list price) and pairs with an optional Button AI Pro subscription at $7.99 per month; users can alternatively supply their own API key, and purchases include three months of Pro. Preorders are open, with first U.S. shipments expected December 15, 2026.
The company is a Y Combinator company (Winter 2026 batch), founded by ex-Apple engineers Chris Nolet and Ryan Burgoyne, both of whom worked on Apple Vision Pro. It has been covered by TechCrunch and Wired, and positions Button as a fast, privacy-conscious, phone-paired alternative to talking to AI through a smartphone app.