Kevin Rose offers a simple, yet incredibly candid test for evaluating investments in AI hardware: “If you feel the urge to punch someone in the face for wearing it, you’re probably not the right person to invest in it.”
This straightforward yardstick rests on his years of experience: Rose is a general partner at True Ventures and an early investor in Peloton, Ring, and Fitbit. He largely steered clear of the “gold rush” around hardware AI in Silicon Valley, choosing other paths in the world of venture capital.
Rose explains his approach to AI-powered wearable devices, focusing not only on technical capabilities but also on emotional and social acceptability of the product. He recalls his experience in earlier projects, especially his role as a board observer at Oura – a company that now accounts for about 80% of the smart ring market – and his previous observations about what defines success in this segment.
As an investor, you should not only assess the technical level but also understand how the product affects people emotionally – how it affects you and those around you.
– Kevin Rose
At TechCrunch Disrupt last week, he noted that excessive “digital presence” in everything can undermine privacy and social interaction. In his words there’s a warning: a balanced role for AI in everyday life is needed, not a constantly-on “smart” in every moment.
Privacy concerns and the real limits of wearable devices
Rose notes that he himself tries various devices, including the ill-fated Humane AI Pendant, which drew the world’s attention a year ago. The serious challenges for him are not only technical but also ethical and social.
A lot of this is simple: “Let’s listen to the whole conversation.”
– Kevin Rose
In the conversation he also shared a personal incident involving the use of similar devices at home – a discussion with his wife became a new boundary in trust and privacy, underscoring the need to treat wearable devices as everyday “cinematography” – not real life on screen.
“I thought: I know I didn’t say that. And I tried to use it to win the argument.” This was the last such situation when I wore this thing. It’s not worth winning an argument at the expense of your AI device’s work logs.
– Kevin Rose
The future of venture capital and the role of the human factor
Rose disagrees with the pessimists and sees many opportunities for entrepreneurs in the evolution of AI. He emphasizes that barriers to entry are decreasing every day, and people who were previously unfamiliar with AI tools can now most likely launch full-fledged applications more quickly.
“Barriers to entry for entrepreneurs are decreasing every day,” he predicted.
– Kevin Rose
According to him, universities and schools are cultivating new “coding” approaches where the decisive role is played not only by technologies but also by the ability to think critically and scale ideas. He is confident that in the future successful businesses will emerge even in unconventional conditions, in environments that previously were not associated with IT.
“In three months, when Gemini 3 hits the market, there will be almost zero mistakes. This will change the world of VC for the better.”
– Kevin Rose
He believes the venture industry will undergo fundamental changes: founders will be able to delay funding rounds until they are truly needed, or even avoid external funding altogether. According to Rose, the most successful investors will be those with high emotional intelligence who stay alongside founders as long-term partners, rather than quick financiers.
In summary, Rose emphasizes: for him, not only technical achievements matter, but also the ability of teams to think big and boldly. He seeks founders who not only fix weaknesses but challenge the world with their ambitious ideas – even if external assessments say “this is wrong.”
“Although the outcome isn’t always successful, we value your intellect and are ready to back you again.”
– Kevin Rose
