The Looki L1 is without doubt one of the most original wearables I noticed at CES 2026.
It’s a tiny little digital camera that’s formed like some type of obscure Pokémon and worn round your neck. It then tracks your day, offers AI “assist”, and gently criticizes your life selections. A minimum of, it did in my case.
To check out the L1, I made a decision to put on it for a full day of the present. Admittedly, I picked “Day 2”, which is a contact quieter than each pre-show and the notoriously hectic opening day of the world’s greatest commerce present. However there was nonetheless greater than sufficient occurring to maintain me occupied.
Right here’s how the Looki L1 fared in Las Vegas.
Photograph and video high quality is a blended bag
Looki claims the L1 is able to taking pictures 1080p movies and taking pictures at 1080p, which could be very respectable on paper.
Nonetheless, I discovered the outcomes diversified considerably. I’d liken it to an entry-level finances smartphone. It would boast a 4K digital camera, however in the event you shoot footage in lower than splendid mild, the standard takes a nosedive.
The footage Looki’s little digital camera took whereas I used to be strolling round outdoors regarded excellent – I used to be actually stunned with the standard.
Dave McQuilling / Foundry
However all of the indoor pictures have various levels of graininess about them. I’m fairly positive the sensor is just like what you see in HD webcams, as a result of all of them look a bit tough when I’m utilizing them indoors as nicely. It’s higher than I assumed it might be, however removed from good.
Should you shoot footage in lower than splendid mild, the standard takes a nosedive
One other factor I want to say is battery life. Apparently, if you let the AI report because it pleases in “Story Mode”, the battery will final 12 hours.
Nonetheless, in the event you’re continually recording quick movies, you’ll seemingly burn by means of it in a morning (like I did). That is no shock; recording video is fairly energy-intensive. It’ll drain your cellphone, or a pair of Ray-Ban Metas, simply as shortly because it does Looki’s wearable.
The AI assistant gave me flashbacks
Should you observe tech carefully, you’ll keep in mind the furore surrounding Humane’s AI Pin. A wearable system you might speak to, get instructions from, and usually run your life with. The system was costly, the subscription it required was costly, and I can’t keep in mind a tool being obtained as negatively in latest instances.
Looki additionally has an on-board AI. It may well monitor bits of your day, touch upon them, and reply questions in the event you faucet and maintain the touchpad on the entrance of the system. I requested it the time, the climate, and the melting level of cadmium. It answered every part adequately.
Dave McQuilling / Foundry
As with the L1’s different options, it isn’t good. Getting it to acknowledge a query in a loud surroundings, just like the CES present flooring, was near unattainable. Nonetheless, it just about does what Humane claimed it might do (minus the little projector) for a fraction of the value, and it doesn’t drive you to fork out $25 a month.
It’s all in regards to the context
Looki’s flagship function is its capacity to inform the story of your day primarily based on what it has seen. Nonetheless, its grasp of context might be a contact flimsy typically.
For instance, my first activity of the day concerned going to a semi-remote resort and sitting by means of an illustration on radar-based self-driving techniques. It was 9am, my hair was a large number, and I used to be carrying a pair of darkish Ray-Bans whereas wielding a cup of black espresso. So I made the identical joke I make on a regular basis, “I’m not hungover, that is how I usually look.”
The Looki L1 heard the joke and zeroed in on the phrase “hangover” because it selected “From Hangover to Excessive Tech” because the title for that day’s abstract. On a probably associated word, it highlighted a bottle of Perrier I used to be sipping a number of hours later and jogged my memory to “Sustain the good behavior of water to remain refreshed all through your day!” Thanks, AI mum!
Dave McQuilling / Foundry
Flip your day into an AI-generated comedian…apparently
One in all Looki’s main options is the power to show your experiences into a bit caricature. A number of types can be found, and so they all look excellent within the Instagram posts I’ve seen. The function undoubtedly exists, as Looki’s creators confirmed it to me a number of instances when speaking me by means of the system.
It highlighted a bottle of Perrier I used to be sipping a number of hours later and jogged my memory to “Sustain the good behavior of water to remain refreshed all through your day!” Thanks, AI mum!
Sadly, for such a serious function, it’s a bit extra advanced than it appears. After tinkering with the app, the one approach I might discover to show a comic book concerned clicking the “AI” button. Whereupon I found it might solely use the pictures/movies I had taken personally, and I hadn’t taken sufficient of them.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Now, I might be incorrect right here – I’ll have missed one thing worryingly easy. However I might argue that, primarily based on a day’s expertise, this wasn’t instantly apparent to me, so different customers will seemingly have a little bit of a studying curve too.
For all its faults, the novelty is interesting
The Looki L1 has some fairly clear shortcomings. Video high quality is blended, the AI isn’t foolproof, and a fun-looking comedian function is complicated (to me, a minimum of).
Nonetheless, in the event you’re a fan of vlogging, you’ll in all probability actually take pleasure in it. It offers a enjoyable little POV of your day, and may provide you with an opportunity to really benefit from the second quite than having to {photograph} it 40 instances first.
The standard doesn’t fairly match most telephones, but it surely does have a ‘set-and-forget’ type of utility. If Looki continues growing its AI providing, the L1 might be a compelling buy for some folks.
The L1 retails for $199 and might be purchased on the Looki web site.
Whereas the Looki L1 can’t be thought of one in all CES’ high merchandise, loads extra had been deserving of a finest in present award.