WeWalk Smart Cane 2 could be one of the few good use cases for AI at CES 2025

WeWalk has introduced a new version of its smart stick for people with visual impairments in Consumer Electronics Show 2025resulting in a redesign that addresses many of the first model’s flaws and adds more advanced AI features and sensors than the 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 could make navigation easier and safer, offering features like turn-by-turn navigation and obstacle detection, along with a ChatGPT-powered voice assistant that puts on-demand information in users’ hands without To use a smartphone as well.

The WeWalk Smart Cane 2 has a slimmer handle than its predecessor, making it more comfortable to hold, and the company says it’s now as lightweight as a standard white cane. It has touch buttons to be easier to use, getting rid of the previous model’s touchpad, which some people found difficult to use. Gillan says it can be used in different weather conditions, not just when it’s warm and dry (WeWalk describes the new wand as “rainwater resistant”).

“You can fold it and unfold it when you need it. There is a speaker, microphone, obstacle detection technology and a flashlight to make visually impaired people more visible at night. It also has motion sensors to provide a more accurate navigation experience,” Ceylan explained.

Under the hood, the WeWalk Smart Cane 2 has an ultrasonic time-of-flight sensor, an inertial measurement unit with six-axis motion tracking, a pulse density modulated microphone, and a barometric pressure sensor from electronics company TDK. When it detects something in the future, it alerts the user through haptic and audio feedback, according to Ceylan.

He demonstrated this in a very cramped and noisy environment at the Las Vegas Convention Center, and I was able to hear the audience when the stick told him he was approaching an obstacle — in this case, a carpeted step marked with yellow and black tape that I saw several CES attendees trip over during our conversation. It can also connect to headphones via Bluetooth.

Paired with your smartphone, it can provide navigation instructions and information about your surroundings, as well as public transportation options. “You can hear the names of the stores and restaurants you pass,” he says. And at Starbucks, where he can’t read the menu, he says he might ask the assistant if they sell chocolate croissants.

“You no longer need to carry your smartphone while you go somewhere,” said Seelan. “You can put it in your pocket and then you can get all the information through the WeWalk smart stick.” There’s a smartphone interface for those who want to use it, which is held up by the demo so I can see what’s happening on the other end. Unlike the vast majority of products I encountered at CES this year that seemed to incorporate AI or ChatGPT for no real reason other than the fact that they could, this actually seemed like a logical position that could be very useful.

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

The London-based startup also has a partnership with the Canadian National Institute of the Blind (CNIB) that will begin in February, when the organization will begin using the WeWalk Smart Cane 2 for its cane training program. The goal is to collect useful data for teachers so they can understand how people use mobility sticks (AI-powered or otherwise), and help them get the most out of the tools. “This is very important, because the better your circumstances are, the better you will engage in life,” says Ceylan.