In a groundbreaking leap at the intersection of artificial intelligence and material science, researchers from Soochow University, China, have developed a revolutionary fabric that allows garments to act as intelligent, voice-responsive AI assistants. Published in Science Advances, the study introduces a triboelectric acoustic textile known as A-Textile, marking a major step toward integrating AI directly into wearable materials.

Unlike conventional bulky devices, this fabric is soft, flexible, washable and lightweight, making it practical for everyday use. The textile captures and amplifies the electrostatic charges that naturally occur when a person speaks. By engineering a multi-layered structure composed of 3D tin-sulfide nanoflowers embedded in silicone rubber and a carbonized textile base, the researchers enhanced its sensitivity and sound recognition ability.

The innovation achieved an impressive 97.5 percent voice recognition accuracy, enabling users to wirelessly control various devices through simple speech commands. In real-life demonstrations, wearers could remotely switch on lights, adjust air conditioners, and even interact with smartphone apps. The fabric seamlessly accessed cloud-based services such as Google Maps for navigation and ChatGPT for tasks like generating travel plans or cocktail recipes.

This advancement showcases how traditional textile technology can complement and enhance AI, blurring the boundaries between fashion, functionality and intelligence. The new smart fabric not only represents a major step in wearable technology but also hints at a future where everyday clothing becomes a natural interface for human–machine communication, redefining how we interact with technology in our daily lives.