Zach Yadegari, the 19-year-old co-founder of Cal AI, has launched his new startup, Persona, with a hefty $10 million in funding. Vine Ventures led the round, with Cory Levy and Collective Global also investing. Persona is a personal AI assistant, complete with a $179 wearable band that acts as a voice-activated companion. Unlike ambient AI, the band can be activated with a button or a wrist flick.

The device is designed with privacy in mind, with data sent to the cloud and protected through encryption. Personal data can be deleted by the user, and the assistant won’t see credit card details. However, the business model does depend on advertisement during shopping research, though the assistant will remain unbiased.

Yadegari envisions a future where all daily utility apps are integrated into a single super app powered by an AI assistant. He hopes Persona will be proactive, solving problems before they arise. The bands are expected to be available in December, with an app in the works. Meanwhile, a free beta product is currently in development, accessible via iMessage text messages.

Persona’s first major task is to demonstrate the potential of AI assistants in our everyday lives, with the potential to revolutionise the way we use technology. Yadegari will be speaking at TechCrunch Disrupt on 'How to create viral growth and capitalize on it.'