Everyone thought it was a vintage phone, until it started ‘booking cabs and ordering Maggi’

A tech enthusiast in Bengaluru is attracting attention with his innovative take on an outdated device. Pankaj Tanwar has transformed his grandfather’s rotary phone into an AI assistant that can listen and respond to voice commands. The project is getting attention online for its unique combination of old-school design and modern technology.

From old-school phone to smart assistant

Tanwar shared why he decided to take on this project. “I was tired of talking to ugly plastic boxes. So I turned my grandfather's old rotary phone into an AI assistant. I pick it up, say, ‘Hey Kiri,’ and just talk about booking a cab, scheduling a meeting, ordering me maggi, turning off the lights, summarizing my emails – literally anything, and it just does it,” he wrote.

Looks retro, works modern

At first glance, the phone appears just like a 1970s rotary model. Inside, it hides a Raspberry Pi and a small AI agent that handles all the smart functions. Tanwar explained, “It sits on my desk. It looks like a normal phone from the 1970s. Nobody knows there is a RasPi & little AI agent living inside it.”

Innovation on a small budget

The project was created with minimal cost. Tanwar said, “Built the whole thing for like $25 with a dummy phone, a Raspberry Pi, and a bunch of hardware components.” Even with a simple setup, the phone can perform multiple tasks like modern smart assistants, such as answering questions, setting reminders, and controlling smart home devices.

Sharing the fun

Tanwar posted pictures and a short video showing the phone in action. While he admitted the demo wasn’t perfect, he highlighted the enjoyment of building it. “I don't know if anyone would actually want a DIY for this. It's stupid fun having this vintage + AI on the desk, man. LMK. (^Pls don't mind the bad demo),” he wrote.

Online reactions

Social media users appreciated the project. One comment read, “Excellent use of AI I have seen so far.” Another said, “It would be so good to find the latest discount coupons for X quick commerce and then order it all under 100 rupees.”

Many others praised the creativity, writing, “You are a legend, man,” “What an amazing development,” “Absolutely love all of your projects,” and “Now this is amazing.”

Disclaimer: This article is based on information shared by the user on social media and related online posts. The claims have not been independently verified.

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