Ex-Apple Designer Joins Hark to Rethink AI Interfaces

A new AI startup is quietly stepping into the spotlight with a bold goal: to completely rethink how humans interact with intelligent software. Founded by entrepreneur Brett Adcock, the secretive lab called Hark is aiming to blend AI models, hardware, and user interfaces into one seamless experience.

Instead of building AI as just another app, Hark wants to design everything together — from the underlying models to the devices people use. The company says its system will feature a persistent memory of a user’s life and will be able to see, hear, and interact with the world in real time. In short, it’s chasing a future where AI feels less like software and more like a personal companion.

Adcock has been outspoken about his vision. In an internal memo, he argued that today’s AI tools still feel limited and disconnected from the devices we use daily. He believes the future will look more like sci-fi assistants — think JARVIS or Her — where systems can anticipate needs and adapt to individuals naturally.

One of Hark’s most notable hires is Abidur Chowdhury, a former Apple industrial designer who worked on products like the iPhone Air. After meeting Adcock, Chowdhury left Apple last year to help build what he sees as the next evolution of user experience.

While the company is keeping most details under wraps, Chowdhury hinted that Hark’s first AI models could launch as early as this summer. Still, he remained tight-lipped about how users will actually interact with the system.

What he did share, however, paints a clear picture of the problem Hark wants to solve. Everyday digital tasks — filling forms, planning trips, or managing information across devices — are still time-consuming and often frustrating. According to Chowdhury, these small tasks pile up into major time drains.

Hark’s approach is to automate these moments entirely. Instead of forcing users to interact with apps and websites, the company envisions intelligence built into the “base layer” of everything — quietly handling tasks in the background.

Interestingly, Chowdhury isn’t convinced that current wearable AI trends are the answer. He expressed skepticism toward devices like smart glasses or camera-based pins, suggesting they create an unnecessary barrier between people and technology. For comparison, companies like Meta have been pushing forward with products such as Meta Glasses, but Hark seems to be taking a different path.

The startup’s philosophy echoes Apple’s legacy of simplicity and elegant design, often associated with figures like Jony Ive. But Hark is focused on personalization — creating experiences tailored to each individual rather than one-size-fits-all interfaces.

Behind the scenes, Hark is building serious technical muscle. The company employs around 45 engineers and designers, including talent from Meta, Tesla, and Apple. It’s also preparing to deploy a large cluster of GPUs from NVIDIA to train its models.

There’s also a connection to Adcock’s robotics company, Figure. Hark’s AI models are already being trained using data from Figure’s robots, although both companies are expected to remain separate.

With $100 million in seed funding from Adcock himself, Hark is entering the increasingly crowded AI race at a time when tech giants are still searching for the breakthrough product that brings AI fully into everyday life.

For Chowdhury, the opportunity feels familiar — and rare. He says it’s the first time since the iPhone era that he’s felt such a strong sense that technology is on the verge of a major shift.

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