Picture this scenario: You wake up in the morning, grab your smart ring from its charger, and put it on. After a typical breakfast and getting dressed, you head out, bidding your partner farewell. All seems well—until you notice a flashing pink LED on your ring indicating a change in your partner’s heart rate. You check your app and find AI-generated insights suggesting your partner is feeling aroused. You can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t right, especially since you’re not at home.
While this scenario may seem like something from a science fiction story, it could become a reality with the advent of the RAW Ring. If it launches as intended, this innovative product could change how we perceive relationships.
Recent media coverage has highlighted the RAW Ring, likening it to a “dystopian loyalty tracker” designed to monitor potential infidelities. Although the product is not yet on the market, the concept comes from the team behind RAW, a dating app focused on combating catfishing and ghosting by requiring users to upload unedited, real-time selfies. According to CEO Marina Anderson, the RAW Ring represents an extension of this vision.
“The inspiration for the ring is to help couples delve deeper into understanding each other’s emotional states and build greater trust,” Anderson explains, emphasizing the significance of the ring as a long-standing cultural symbol of trust. “With nearly 50 percent of marriages ending in divorce, we want to restore the ring to its status as a trust symbol.”
While the RAW Ring remains unavailable for purchase, Anderson has shared a detailed framework of its capabilities. The smart ring is expected to include an optical sensor for heart rate and variability, a skin temperature sensor, an accelerometer, and a gyroscope for motion detection. It will also feature a noise-canceling MEMs microphone to evaluate voice tone. The ring plans to integrate a “dual-level AI” system: one for on-device processing and another in the cloud for in-depth trend analysis. Anderson asserts that this technology will differentiate between various states such as arousal, exercise, and everyday activity based on diverse data inputs, including physiological stress indicators.
Anderson claims the technology will be capable of distinguishing between vigorous exercise, arousal, and routine activities.
On paper, these features appear viable, with similar technology already present in devices like the Oura Ring, which tracks stress and can recognize various physical activities. AI wearables like Bee and the now-discontinued Amazon Halo have also utilized voice tone analysis. Other products, such as the Bond Touch Bracelet, enable long-distance couples to exchange tactile notifications as a sign of affection. The RAW Ring seeks to combine these different functionalities into a single device.
However, the primary concern surrounding the RAW Ring lies not in its feasibility but in the ethical implications of its potential use.
The website for the RAW Ring presents a provocative marketing strategy, featuring phrases such as “spill the tech tea” and slogans like “making true love trackable.” The site emphasizes words like “Loyalty” and “Voice Tracking.” Anderson is quoted saying, “Like a bestie on a finger — keeping tabs on heartbeats, body heat, and interactions around your partner. When something’s up, you’ll know. Simple as that.”
Combining the proposed functionality and marketing approaches, criticisms arise depicting the ring as a tool for emotional surveillance. The notion that a device may report on your emotional state in real-time feels invasive. Concerns emerge regarding the accuracy of the ring’s interpretations. For instance, could a promotion’s excitement be misconstrued as sexual arousal? And for individuals who prefer to privately process emotions, this device may not be suitable or beneficial. Additionally, even for those with suspicions of infidelity, can such monitoring truly foster healthy relationships? By introducing emotional surveillance, could we be fostering detrimental codependency?
“When something’s up, you’ll know. Simple as that.”
When pressed on these ethical considerations, Anderson maintains that they do not intend for the ring to act as a loyalty tracker or surveillance device. She believes those intending to cheat will avoid wearing the ring due to its noticeable presence.
Anderson contextualizes the concept of loyalty as a proactive commitment, suggesting that the ring serves as a promise of honesty and fidelity. She asserts that the ring’s intended audience consists of individuals eager for serious, trusting relationships.
However, the intentions of the creators do not guarantee how the technology will be utilized in practice.
For example, Apple’s AirTags, which were not designed for stalking, are nonetheless used for that purpose by malicious individuals. Despite safety alerts, incidents of misuse persist, leading to dangerous situations. What safeguards would exist to prevent the RAW Ring from enabling similar coercive dynamics within relationships?
Anderson acknowledges these concerns and mentions that the development team is incorporating features allowing users to select which emotional metrics they wish to share. For instance, if someone prefers their partner not to receive alerts regarding their stress levels, that information will remain private.
“…If you plan to cheat, you’ll never wear the ring because it’ll be easily visible when you do so.”
“We want users to have the ability to adjust their settings quickly in response to emerging relationship dynamics,” explains Anderson. “Not all conflict indicators are apparent until they surface. The device should offer flexibility, allowing quick deactivation of sharing capabilities.”
The RAW team is also engaging with couples to discuss comfort levels regarding shared information, including those with diverse attachment styles and those who have experienced tumultuous relationships. While Anderson expresses interest in consulting domestic violence advocacy groups, no formal discussions have taken place as of yet.
The path toward the RAW Ring’s release remains uncertain. Anderson disclosed that extensive testing is yet to be conducted, with a prototype projected for release in September and hopes for a full launch in early 2026. However, the situation could evolve significantly in the intervening time.
Nevertheless, the potential for the RAW Ring to reach the market may be less pressing than the implications of its concept. Ultimately, a version of this technology is anticipated to emerge in the near future.
