I am Iron Man: Overland Park startup’s AI mouse brings voice-activated tech to your fingertips

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Tony Stark talks to an artificial intelligence program within his Iron Man suit to get immediate access to information — as if he’s having a conversation with AI. Although Stark is a fictional character imbued with vast powers via such tech, Jerry Hsu said, users don’t have to be a superhero to utilize this type of advanced engagement.

Jerry Hsu, Virtusx

“In the real world, AI is moving toward that direction,” said Hsu, the founder and CEO of Virtusx. “We truly believe that the future of AI is going to heavily rely on voice interaction.”

The Overland Park-based software startup is revolutionizing workplaces through integrating hardware and software to make AI-driving products more accessible and user-friendly, Hsu explained. Virtusx’s first product: an AI-enhanced computer mouse.

Virtusx Jethro V1 is a GPT-powered AI mouse that features capabilities such as voice interaction, image generation, writing tools and more. The mouse’s built-in microphone allows for voice and text transcription, which can then be translated into over a hundred languages. 

“Right now, a lot of AI technology is on the internet, which requires you to use a browser,” Hsu noted. “There’s no easy hardware and software connection. But our [mouse] combines everything together.”

Click here to check out Virtusx Jethro V1: GPT-Powered AI Mouse.

In October, Virtusx launched a Kickstarter campaign for their AI Mouse. Within 45 days, the startup exceeded their goal of $10,000 by raising a total of $79,234 from just over 600 backers. 

Although Virtusx’s initial crowdfunding campaign has ended, the company has received additional interest in its AI Mouse. In response, Virtusx launched a secondary crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo. Interested consumers can back Virtusx on that platform to purchase the first model of their AI Mouse.

“We’ve already gotten a lot of great feedback saying that people love this product,” Hsu said. “However, because people have different kinds of preferences when they are using a mouse, whether that be the shape or style, we are working on developing our next phase — a keyboard.” 

Hsu and Virtusx will soon be at CES, a four-day trade show Jan. 7-10 in Las Vegas that showcases the tech landscape across various industries, where they will showcase their AI mouse and have prototypes of the keyboard. 

The mission of Virtusx is to give workers the tools they can seamlessly integrate into their life to help improve their productivity, Hsu shared. He emphasized that he does not view AI as taking over human jobs but rather working alongside people to streamline tasks and maximize potential.

Virtusx AI mouse; courtesy photo

“I hear of a lot of people being afraid of AI because they are worried that AI is going to replace you in your job or destroy your industry,” he said. “But I see AI as your tool, as your assistant, as a partner. I firmly believe that in the future, those people who know how to utilize AI in their workspace are going to replace those who do not know how to use AI.”

Along with prioritizing productivity, Hsu is passionate about making AI safe for people of all ages to use, he continued. 

“I want to build a software that is safe for kids to use as well,” Hsu said. “A lot of software right now [has] no restriction of who is able to access it. For example, you can type in anything and there is no restraint on what the AI model will be giving out to you. So one of the big things our company is working on is an educational system to educate our next generation on how to utilize AI but do so in a safe manner. Because again, we see AI as part of our future, so we want our next generation to be prepared.”