Engram turns AI hallucinations into experimental hardware

The device operates entirely offline, moving away from the cloud-based generation common in modern AI music tools. Founder Evan King describes the experience as akin to circuit bending, where users are encouraged to stress the internal models until they break. This approach results in textures that feel vaguely familiar yet uncanny, prioritizing experimental sound design over the convenience of a push-button song generator.

Thoughtful Things emphasizes a transparent development process, noting that its proprietary models were trained exclusively on commercially licensed audio datasets. The company plans to open the firmware, allowing enthusiasts to modify the software or upload custom models. Early backers can secure a unit for $675 through the current Kickstarter campaign, which represents a 30 percent discount on the projected retail price of $850 to $900.