Abstract

Wearables with AI capabilities are advancing rapidly, yet their design remains challenging due to the interplay of hardware, software, and human factors. To unify and accelerate progress in this field, we are building an open ecosystem of AI-enhanced, open-source wearables that drive innovation across health, fitness, and human–computer interaction. In this talk, I will present recent advances in AI-enabled wearable systems, highlighting lessons learned from developing open hardware and embedded AI pipelines. I will also discuss how AI can assist in the design of future wearable devices.

Bio Tobias Röddiger leads the Wearable Systems group at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). His research explores AI-enhanced biomedical wearables and the automation of their design. He previously conducted research at KIT , MIT, the University of Cambridge, and Lancaster University. His group developed OpenEarable, the first open-source platform for ear-based health sensing which is used by almost all major consumer tech companies. His work has received several best paper and dissertation awards. Driven by the vision of open wearable computing, he aims to build an ecosystem of AI-enhanced devices that advance digital health.