The WeWalk Smart Cane 2 could be one of AI’s few good use cases at CES 2025

WeWalk has introduced a new version of its smart cane for people with visual impairments. CES 2025introducing a redesign that addresses many of the first model’s shortcomings and adds artificial intelligence features and more advanced sensors from TDK. It is positioned as an alternative to the traditional folding white cane. Co-founder Kursat Ceylan, who has been blind since birth, says Smart Cane 2 can make mobility easier and safer by offering features such as turn-by-turn navigation and obstacle detection, as well as a GPT-based voice assistant that puts on-demand information in the hands of users without the need to manipulate smartphone.

The WeWalk Smart Cane 2 has a thinner handle than its predecessor, which should provide a more comfortable grip, and the company says it’s now about as light as a standard white cane. It has tactile buttons that make it more user-friendly, doing away with the previous model’s touchpad, which some people found difficult to use. Ceylan says it can be used in a variety of weather conditions, not just when it’s warm and dry (WeWalk describes the new cane as “rainwater resistant”). Battery life is about 20 hours.

“You can fold it and unfold it whenever you need it. There’s a speaker, microphone, obstacle detection technology, and a flashlight to make the visually impaired more visible at night. In addition, it is equipped with motion sensors that provide more accurate navigation,” explained Ceylan.

Under the hood of the WeWalk Smart Cane 2 is an ultrasonic time-of-flight sensor, an inertial measurement unit with six-axis motion tracking, a pulse density modulation microphone, and a barometric pressure sensor from electronics company TDK. According to Ceylan, when it detects something ahead, it alerts the user with both haptic and audio feedback.

He demonstrated this in a very crowded and noisy environment at the Las Vegas Convention Center, and I could hear through the crowd as the cane told him he was approaching an obstacle—in this case, a carpeted step marked with yellow and black tape. that I saw several CES exhibitors trip during our conversation. It can also connect to headphones via Bluetooth.

When paired with a smartphone, it can provide navigation instructions and information about your surroundings as well as public transport options. “You can hear the names of the shops and restaurants you pass by,” he says. At Starbucks, where he can’t read the menu, he says he could ask the clerk if they sell chocolate croissants.

“You no longer need to hold your smartphone in your hands while you walk somewhere,” Ceylan said. “You can put it in your pocket and then get all the information with the WeWalk smart cane.” However, for those who want to use it, there is a smartphone interface, which he held during the demo so I could see what was happening on the other end. Unlike the vast majority of products I came across at CES this year, which seem to include AI or ChatGPT for no real reason other than the fact that they can do it, this actually seemed like a situation when it makes sense and can even be quite useful.

Since it’s brand new, we don’t yet know how all of this will apply in the real world. Pre-orders for the WeWalk Smart Cane 2 are now open, with the first wave expected to start shipping before the end of this month. There are two pricing models: $850 for the smart cane plus a voice assistant subscription that costs $4.99 per month, or $1,150 total with no additional subscription fee for full AI use. WeWalk Smart Cane 2 is available internationally.

The London-based startup has also entered into a partnership with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), which will begin in February when the organization begins using the WeWalk Smart Cane 2 for its cane training program. The goal is to collect meaningful data for instructors so they can truly understand how people use mobile canes (AI-enabled or not) and help them get the most out of the tools. This, Ceylan says, is “very important because the better you get around, the better you participate in life.”

Update January 9, 2025, 11:55 a.m. ET: This story has been updated to add details about the smart cane’s battery life.