Angry AI Study Lamp Keeps You Honest and Off Your Phone

Picking up our phones in the middle of a work session or while studying has become a reflex that is almost impossible to resist. The smartest among us do not even try to rely on sheer willpower, instead turning to apps and services that promise to block out distractions. Sadly, these digital helpers do not always deliver, and sometimes they ask for more time, money, or personal data than most of us are willing to give.

That is where this AI-powered DIY lamp comes in, bringing back the classic method of shaping behavior: immediate, memorable consequences. In this case, it takes the form of a desk lamp that does not just shine a light, but gets hilariously angry when it catches you slacking off. There is something delightfully old-school about a gadget that reacts with a scolding glare and a grumpy voice, all in the name of keeping you on track.

Designer: Arpan Mondal (Makestreme)

It all began as a bit of a joke, the kind of idea you toss out with no real intention of making it happen. But as the pieces started coming together, it became clear that this could actually be a clever way to help people build better habits. Now, the lamp is a real, working device that glows a fierce red and shouts at you whenever it spots a phone on your desk; no excuses, no mercy, just instant feedback.

Building the lamp is surprisingly approachable for anyone with a bit of DIY experience. The main ingredients are a Raspberry Pi 4, a Pi Camera HQ, a ring of programmable LEDs, and a small speaker. Toss in a 3D-printed or laser-cut shell, and you have got all you need. The camera keeps watch over your workspace, while the Raspberry Pi runs a custom-trained AI model that can spot a phone in an instant.

What sets this lamp apart is how simple and effective it is. All the image processing happens right on the device, so you do not have to worry about your camera sending anything to the cloud. The lamp does not keep logs or track your habits, it just reacts in real time, rewarding you with a calming white glow when you stay focused and unleashing its full fury when you slip up. The immediate feedback makes it much harder to ignore your own bad habits.

That does not mean it is perfect. You will need a bit of tech know-how to put everything together and train the AI if you want to tweak what it looks for. The lamp also needs to be placed just right, with good lighting, to do its job well. But for anyone willing to dive into a fun project and who needs a little extra push to stay off their phone, this lamp is hard to beat.

The post Angry AI Study Lamp Keeps You Honest and Off Your Phone first appeared on Yanko Design.