I found a use of AI that doesn't make me cringe and shudder, and it's in the mic everyone's waited over a decade for

The Blue Yeti microphone has been updated with AI technology, specifically machine learning, resulting in the new Yeti 2. This version, released after Logitech acquired Blue in 2018, integrates AI features into the hardware. Upon testing the Yeti 2 at Logitech's G Play event in Warsaw, the writer found it impressive. The mic maintains its familiar look, sound, and feels, while incorporating an OLED screen, various customisation options, and machine learning-driven voice following and noise reduction.

The screen allows for easy access to default modes for music, podcasting, and more, or users can delve deeper into the settings. The omni-directional mic can adjust its polar pattern using a combination of voice detection and head-detection, which changes the cone of pickup direction based on the speaker's position. Noise reduction levels 1 and 2 effectively eliminated background chatter during testing, with level 3 slightly affecting voice quality.

Clipping detection is also included, with a Yeti character on-screen indicating when the user is speaking too loudly or too close to the mic. The price of $160/£140 is within the high-end USB mic bracket, making it a worthy iteration of the classic Yeti microphone.