Yandex launches Yandex Drops, the first wearable AI device powered by Alice AI

Yandex Drops earbuds powered by Alice AI are now available for purchase. This is the company's first wearable AI device, allowing users to interact with Alice AI on the go without reaching for their phone.

Yandex Drops users can get answers from Alice AI at any time and will be the first to gain access to My Memory, a new Alice AI feature. It allows users to save thoughts, plans, and ideas, which Alice AI then turns into structured notes and reminders. Yandex Drops owners will be able to use My Memory not only through their earbuds, but also in Alice AI chat, on Station smart speakers, and on TV Station devices.

For the first week, the device will be sold exclusively through the Alice AI chat, before becoming available through retail channels.

Cutting-edge AI model

Yandex Drops bring the full capabilities of Yandex's most advanced language model into a wearable format, making Alice AI accessible on the go. To better suit voice interactions, the earbuds provide more concise answers than those available in chat.

Users can now get answers from Alice AI without looking at their phone or laptop. For example, while shopping, users can ask Alice AI what E440 means in a yogurt ingredient list, or check when a nearby pickup point closes on the way home from work. Conversations started through the earbuds can be continued in chat and will be saved in the “Drops Earbuds” section.

My Memory: a second brain for important information

Yandex Drops owners will be the first to access My Memory, an Alice AI feature that acts as a second brain. With My Memory, users can save anything they want to remember simply by speaking to Alice AI — whether it's a gift idea for a friend, something agreed with a colleague, or questions to ask a doctor.

Alice AI turns this information into structured notes and lists that can be accessed at any time. For example, it can tell users when their car insurance expires or when their dog last got its vaccine. Alice AI can also deliver timely reminders through the earbuds, phone notifications, Station smart speakers, or TV Stations. Users no longer have to remember everything themselves or search through multiple apps and messengers.

My Memory will be available to Yandex Drops owners across the Alice AI ecosystem, including the Alice AI chat on smartphones and computers, earbuds, Station smart speakers, and TV Stations. Notes can be searched, added, edited, and deleted either by voice or manually.

For example, users can ask: “Alice, when do we need to bring the craft project to kindergarten?”, “Alice, what did I want to tell my friend?”, or say ”“Alice, remove the barbecue grill from my country house checklist.”

Music, calls, and voice controls — just like on Stations

Yandex Drops are full-featured wireless earbuds that combine high-quality sound, noise cancellation, and voice controls for calls, music, and smart home devices.

For example, users can ask Alice AI to play a favorite playlist while on the go, start a robot vacuum at home, or call a friend or a local clinic. Alice AI can automatically find the number in contacts or online.

The earbuds also support quick commands. Users can simply say “Quieter,” “Stop,” “Continue,” “Decline,” or use other short voice commands. These work even offline, as an onboard NPU processor handles them directly on the device. The system has been trained to recognize commands even in noisy environments.

Yandex Drops feature an 11 mm audio driver that delivers high-quality sound. Users who prefer a customized listening experience can fine-tune the audio using the built-in equalizer. The earbuds offer three noise cancellation modes: Standard, Adaptive, and Transparency. Noise cancellation works for both audio playback and call microphones.

Touch controls allow users to manage calls, playback, and noise cancellation, as well as adjust volume. Yandex Drops are IP54-rated for dust and water resistance and are suitable for sports and outdoor activities.

With noise cancellation and quick commands enabled, the earbuds provide up to five hours of battery life on a single charge. With those features disabled, battery life extends to up to eight hours.

Yandex Drops must be paired with the Alice AI app. To ensure instant responses from Alice AI, users should make sure the app is allowed to run in the background.

The earbuds are available in white, black, and purple.

Availability

From June 9 to June 15, Yandex Drops will be available for purchase exclusively through the Alice AI chat. To buy the earbuds, users can type “buy earbuds with Alice” in the chat, select their preferred color, and proceed to checkout.

Starting June 16, Yandex Drops will also be available through electronics retailers and other retail partners in Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus. In Uzbekistan, sales through retail partners will begin on June 30.