Kevin Bates pivots to AI-powered digital flames

The hardware features 144 LEDs tucked into a black or white circuitboard frame, requiring a constant USB-C connection as it lacks an onboard battery. Unlike simple looped animations, the AI model processes real-world candle footage to create unique flickering patterns on the fly. While the price point remains steep compared to his previous gaming hardware, the device is fully open source. Users can bypass the candle simulation entirely to repurpose the grid for custom notifications, clocks, or Conway’s Game of Life, offering a degree of versatility for those inclined to tinker with the underlying code.