Botched haircuts and dodgy fades might become a thing of the past, as a startup unveils its artificial intelligence (AI) powered clippers.
Unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, GLYDE claims to be the 'world's first smart hair clipper'.
The bizarre device uses an AI 'cutting coach' and 'auto fade' technology to let even the most inexperienced barber give a trim like a pro.
As long as you are willing to trust your hair to an algorithm, GLYDE says it can give a full cut in under 10 minutes.
To get a new haircut, users first select their chosen style from the app on their phone.
Then, someone can simply run the clippers over their head as the device automatically adjusts the depth of the cut.
The blades move automatically so that complex cuts like a fade can be done in a single pass, without any experience or skill.
GLYDE is so confident in its technology that it boasts the clippers can deliver a cut with 'zero mistakes', but would you trust AI to cut your hair?
A startup has unveiled the 'world's first smart clipper', named GLYDE, which uses an AI 'cutting coach' and 'auto fade' technology to let even the most inexperienced barber give a trim like a pro.
According to GLYDE, the clipper features built-in sensors that track your motion and the angle of the blade.
Onboard motors compare this motion to the design for the haircut, and automatically shift the blades.
In theory, this means that your hair should end up at the exact right length, no matter how the clipper is held.
To prevent wonky cuts, the user first needs to put on a mask-like headband.
This 'fade band' provides a constant reference point for the clippers so that they know exactly where the fade should begin.
For nervous first-time barbers, the GLYDE also includes several features that should, in theory, make it impossible to mess up.
If you suddenly change the speed or angle of the cut, the blades will retract and prevent any further cutting.
Likewise, if GLYDE detects that you are holding it at the wrong angle or starting the cut from the wrong position, the blades won't deploy in the first place.
The AI-powered clipper automatically adjusts the blades as you cut, to deliver a smooth and consistent haircut without any skill or experience.
Users simply select a haircut from the app and follow the on-screen instructions, while the clipper automatically moves the blades to perform the cut.
To make things even easier, the clippers themselves feature a screen that shows information like cutting zone and blade depth.
They also include a small spirit-level display, so that you can be sure to hold them straight and level.
Currently, users can only choose their trim from a library of pre-made styles, which GLYDE says have been 'tested across different head shapes'.
However, in the future, the company plans to allow users to upload their own templates and take inspiration from other users' results.
If you are particularly brave, GLYDE even says that it may add options for 'beard and body trimming' in a future update.
As reported by The Verge, the company also plans to add voice controls for the AI.
Eventually, the onboard AI will be able to recommend specific hairstyles to the users and send them straight to the clippers.
The company has not yet provided an official release date, but the GLYDE clippers are expected to start shipping in the summer this year and cost around £110 ($150).
Currently, users can only choose from a set of pre-made haircut options on the GLYDE app. However, in the future, the company will add options to upload your own templates.
GLYDE have not yet responded to the Daily Mail's request for additional information.
The clippers will be available directly from GLYDE's website or from selected online retailers.
However, AI-powered clippers weren't the only strange gadgets revealed at CES this year.
Beauty company L'Oreal unveiled a strange, flexible LED face mask that combats visible signs of ageing through 'targeted red light and near-infrared light'.
Meanwhile, the health startup Vivoo launched its hormone-sensing menstrual pads that can detect signs of fertility issues or conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome.
HALF OF CURRENT JOBS WILL BE LOST TO AI WITHIN 15 YEARS
Kai-Fu Lee, the author of AI Superpowers: China, Silicon Valley, and the New World Order, told Dailymail.com the world of employments was facing a crisis 'akin to that faced by farmers during the industrial revolution.'
Half of current jobs will be taken over by AI within 15 years, one of China's leading AI experts has warned.
Kai-Fu Lee, the author of bestselling book AI Superpowers: China, Silicon Valley, and the New World Order, told Dailymail.com the world of employments was facing a crisis 'akin to that faced by farmers during the industrial revolution.'
'People aren't really fully aware of the effect AI will have on their jobs,' he said.
Lee, who is a VC in China and once headed up Google in the region, has over 30 years of experience in AI.
He believes it is imperative to 'warn people there is displacement coming, and to tell them how they can start retraining.'
Luckily, he said all is not lost for humanity.
'AI is powerful and adaptable, but it can't do everything that humans do.'
Lee believe AI cannot create, conceptualize, or do complex strategic planning, or undertake complex work that requires precise hand-eye coordination.
He also says it is poor at dealing with unknown and unstructured spaces.
Crucially, he says AI cannot interact with humans 'exactly like humans', with empathy, human-human connection, and compassion.