This $9 NFC key locks apps — and the AI roasts your willpower

autonomous key began shipping a $9 nfc accessory that physically locks addictive apps like instagram, forcing users to scan a key fob to regain access for timed sessions. the system includes a companion app that uses ai to analyze usage frequency and timing, providing personalized, often critical feedback to discourage users from immediately re-locking and unlocking apps. priced significantly lower than hardware competitors like brick and blok, the device supports multi-phone pairing and requires no subscription for full feature access, though early beta testing suggests nfc scanning can be inconsistent.