EQUIPThe Verge · 1h ago
This $149 digital candle uses AI to accurately simulate a flickering flame
Executive Brief
The 30-second read
Entrepreneur Kevin Bates has launched a $149 digital candle utilizing custom artificial intelligence to replicate realistic flame movement across an LED grid. This device represents an advancement in atmospheric tech for high-end hospitality and corporate environments seeking safe alternatives to open flames.
- 01Device uses a custom AI model to drive realistic flickering simulations on an LED display
- 02Priced at 149 dollars for the premium consumer and commercial design markets
- 03Developed by Bates following his previous engineering success with flexible electronic displays
- 04Eliminates fire hazards while maintaining the aesthetic utility of traditional wax candles
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After engineering a flexible version of Tetris that could be wrapped around a magazine, Kevin Bates' latest creation is a digital candle that uses a custom AI model to accurately simulate the appearance of a flickering flame across a grid of LEDs. It's a far cry from the types of devices Bates is typically known […]