AI Token Counter

A clock-sized object that does one thing: it counts. Twelve seven-segment digits, glowing pale blue, ticking up every token you burn through your AI tools.

I kept paying AI bills I couldn’t feel. The spend is real but invisible — it lives in a dashboard you never open until the invoice lands. So I built a thing that puts the number on my desk, where I can’t ignore it.

What it is

An ESP32-powered desk device, roughly the size of a clock, with a 12-digit 7-segment display. It pulls your usage and shows a live running tally — no app to open, no tab to check. Glance up, see the number, feel the cost. It’s the difference between knowing your AI spend and seeing it climb in real time.

Why it exists

• Ambient, not interruptive. It’s a number on a shelf, not a notification. The point is to live with the figure until it changes how you work.
• Honest hardware. ESP32 inside, real segments out front. Nothing precious — a tool that does its one job.
• Built for myself first. This sits on my own desk. I’m putting it here to see who else wants the same thing.

More to come as I figure out whether these become a real product.