Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming every aspect of our lives – from the way we work to how we use devices like smartphones and computers. Unsurprisingly, the forthcoming products that are expected to get smarter are PC accessories like keyboards and mice.A few weeks ago, I came across a new mouse that had an integrated AI button, which piqued my curiosity about how an AI-enabled mouse could transform my everyday workflow, which involves writing a lot of text and scouring the web. I replaced my Logitech MX Master 3, one of the best mice ever made for productivity, with Otek’s BM09, a smarter mouse with a built-in AI button, and here’s how it went. The Otek BM09 is easy to use, pocketable and has an ergonomic design. (Image Credit: Anurag Chawake/Indian Express)Ergonomics and DesignThe Otek BM09 is a sleek and lean mouse that is very comfortable for long browsing sessions. To give you a quick reference, I have medium-sized hands, which means using a large mouse requires either a lot of effort or practice. And while the Logitech MX Master 3 is pretty large, the ergonomics of that mouse are almost unbeatable.It has subtle curves that feel easy to hold, and even if you have medium-sized hands like me, reaching and pressing the left and right buttons is easy. The buttons themselves are very clicky but make very little noise, meaning you or anyone around you won’t be bothered by constant clicking sounds.I received the white variant of the Otek BM09, which is good to look at, but like all white-coloured gadgets, prone to dust and stains. It is made from plastic that doesn’t feel cheap and is easy to clean, thanks to its glossy finish. On top, you get a matte finish scroll wheel that is smooth to use. Below it, you get a button that lets you take screenshots of what’s on the screen and another button labelled “AI”, which gives you quick access to Otek’s AI feature suite. (more on that later)The right side of the mouse features the usual forward and back buttons, which also double up as text-to-speech and translation buttons. Both the text-to-speech and translation features work as expected most of the time and are really handy if you are someone who uses their PC with voice control or want a quick way to translate text. The Wi-Fi adapter is embedded on the bottom side. (Image Credit: Anurag Chawake/Indian Express)On the bottom, you get the power on/off switch and the option to switch between two Bluetooth-connected devices. If you don’t like or have Bluetooth on your PC, simply plug in the USB-A dongle, which can be taken out from the bottom of the mouse’s body, and you are good to go.Story continues below this adFor productivity purposes, the sensor is pretty good and you will have no problem using it for doing things like giving presentations, jumping between text or scrolling and other work or casual use, but if you are going to use it for gaming, which I did once, keep in mind that the tracking isn’t on par with most gaming mice that cost a quarter or even half of this mouse.Even after hours of use, I felt no wrist pain, which is surprising since I am accustomed to one of the most ergonomic non-vertical mice on the market. If you don’t play games or care about sensor or cursor tracking, this is an easy recommendation. The Otek BM09 causes no wrist pain and is comfortable even if you use it for half a day. (Image Credit: Anurag Chawake/Indian Express)What does the AI button do?The USP of this mouse is the AI button, which gives you quick access to Otek’s AI feature suite. These AI features can help with anything you think of, be it rewriting text, summarising an article, translating text, or even asking the AI chatbot random questions.The software might look pretty dated by modern standards but it is quite fast and easy to use. On the left panel, you get the option to use OtekAI, a custom GPT-powered chatbot that is quite useful for general queries, but its knowledge is limited to 2023, with no option to access the internet.Story continues below this adOther options include AI Writing, AI PPT, AI Excel, AI Image and AI Assistants. The first two are pretty much straightforward to use, and I can’t comment on the quality of the generated PPTs and Excel sheets. Aptly named AI Image, the option lets you generate images from scratch in different styles and resolutions with a simple text prompt. Under AI Assistants, you get features like Summarisation, Proofreading and OCR, which work as expected. The software is feature-packed but looks dated. (Image Credit: Anurag Chawake/Indian Express)The Otek BM09 is quite lightweight, weighing under 100 grams and has a bunch of features that include one-click access to some AI-powered ones, which, depending on your work, may or may not be useful for you. If you are someone who wants a sleek and premium-feeling mouse that isn’t large like Logitech’s MX Master 3, the Otek BM09 might be a good choice.But I feel more tech-savvy users might find the AI button gimmicky at best, as mouse buttons can be remapped to launch custom shortcuts and apps like ChatGPT. However, those looking to use the AI button for features like image generation, rewriting text, drafting emails, and applications and generating Excel sheets and PPTs might find it really useful.For Rs 4,999, I feel like the Otek BM09 is worth it if the AI features and buttons on it are useful on a daily basis, but if you are looking for a more accurate sensor or mouse with even more buttons or features like a horizontal scroll bar, there are better alternatives out there.