This $149 digital candle uses AI to accurately simulate a flickering flame

October 29, 2026 Andrew Liszewski

A close-up of the Digital Candle’s grid of LEDs.

After engineering a flexible version of Tetris that could be wrapped around a magazine, Kevin Bates' latest creation is a digital candle that uses a custom AI model to accurately simulate the appearance of a flickering flame across a grid of LEDs. It's a far cry from the types of devices Bates is typically known for, including the Arduboy, but paying $79 for a credit card-sized handheld that can play hundreds of games is an easier sell than a $149 digital candle that doesn't quite provide the same ambiance as the real thing, even if it's much safer.

At the top of the 10-inch tall Digital Candle, which is available now with a black or white …

Read the full story at The Verge.

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