The Hardware Resale Conference Is Here

"Dump Your Useless AI Hardware Here"

When it comes to AI hardware, Zang AI has run a whole series of reviews, including but not limited to:

Looki, which exists mainly in GeekPark articles — supposedly tens of thousands of units shipped, though I've barely seen anyone actually using one, probably because none of my friends are geeks.

The plasticky LightSail headphones, whose camera shutter lag and general uselessness I could rant about for hours. The first piece of AI hardware that actually made me laugh while testing it.

And the Doubao earbuds — Luo Zima had planned to bring them to GDC for live English translation, but the crowds were so thick the network couldn't handle it, so they sat completely unused.

So what can you do with all this AI hardware you'll probably never touch again? Oh right — just list it on Zhuanzhuan, they do doorstep pickup and the prices are decent, or Xianyu works too. This ad space is available for rent.

Applying the same logic to others, I'm guessing plenty of you have the same problem. So we've decided to throw a hardware swap event to get your abandoned AI hardware circulating again.

And since you're already coming, why stop at swapping? Might as well roast whatever AI hardware you've bought and warn your friends off it.

I hereby announce that the first AI Hardware Swap Conference will take place in the blessed land of Shenzhen — the pinnacle of China's supply chain.

The event has two parts:

01

Hardware Presentations

To make sure someone actually gets on stage and tears into AI hardware, we've preemptively invited some AI hardware founders to serve as punching bags.

After meeting with a string of AI hardware founders, Xianyu and I came away with one main impression: these people tell suspiciously perfect stories.

Moya founder Qian Zheng says he suffered from anxiety and insomnia, so he built a harmless, warm, cute, soft, adorable robot — and claims he cuddles with Moya every night to fall asleep.

The Odyss founder says his whole family are doctors, but that didn't stop his relatives from getting chronic illnesses, so he made an AI health device.

These stories sound airtight, but something feels off. So we've rounded up some AI hardware entrepreneurs to show up in person.

After hearing their pitches, you can get hands-on with the demos they bring.

And if you test them and find they're nothing like the story — don't hold back. Roast them right there on the spot.

If because of you, one more piece of AI hardware that never should have existed gets killed, the world becomes a slightly better place.

02

Open Mic & Hardware Swap

This is Zang AI's favorite part. We're asking attendees to bring at least one AI hardware device, get on stage, and demo just how garbage it is.

You can expect a wave of AI glasses and AI recording cards.

After open mic, we'll move to a vote to determine whose AI hardware is the most pathetically useless. The winner gets a Bambu Lab 3D printer.

You might ask: why a prize?

Obviously because they bought the most useless hardware, so we're throwing them a bone.

We're co-hosting this event with ZhenFund, whose hardware investments are a colorful bunch themselves, including:

BodyPark, a pocket AI personal trainer; and Yunwang Innovation, an automatic foam roller. Both projects will be on-site to take their licks.

If you're a hardware founder who wants to face the music from our audience, you can sign up via our backend;

If you're a Huaqiangbei boss who thinks all this AI hardware is street trash, come unleash at our open mic.

Anyway, if you're interested, scan the QR code on the poster to register.

Time: Saturday, July 11, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Location: Nanshan District, Shenzhen (details upon registration approval)

Thanks to our sponsor Google Cloud for supporting this event. They offer eligible startups up to $350,000 in cloud credits — interested founders can fill out the survey to leave your contact info. Spots are first-come, first-served, and Substack subscribers get some priority.

Finally, thanks to christophwu for the idea of a useless AI hardware swap ❤️

(Cover image generated by ChatGPT; article written entirely by humans)

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