AI Pin Terminates Services
Humane, the startup behind the wearable device AI Pin, has announced the sale of a majority stake to PC giant HP for $116 million. As a result, AI Pin will no longer support voice calls, messaging, or AI queries.
AI Pin was once considered the most revolutionary product after the iPhone, but after its launch in 2024, it faced a wave of negative reviews, ultimately leading Humane to the fate of being acquired.
Image / Humane X
HP will receive Humane’s employees, software platform, and over 300 patent technologies, excluding hardware-related businesses. Humane’s founders, former Apple designers Imran Chaudhri and engineer Bethany Bongiorno, will also join HP, with the acquisition process expected to be completed by the end of February.
Humane Founders Join HP to Form New Team Integrating AI and Devices
According to Bloomberg, after joining HP, Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno will establish a new team called “HP IQ,” which will serve as HP’s new AI innovation lab, integrating AI technologies with HP’s PCs, printers, and other products to create a new AI ecosystem.
In recent months, Humane has shifted its focus from AI Pin hardware to developing a software platform called CosmOS for application devices. Originally designed for AI Pin, the operating system CosmOS has since transformed into a software platform that other manufacturers can also implement in their products. HP may enhance the AI capabilities of its various products based on this technological foundation.
HP emphasizes that executing some generative AI functions on-device, as opposed to relying entirely on cloud computing, is more cost-effective, secure, and faster. They stress that AI should be ubiquitous and integrated into all devices to effectively assist users in enhancing productivity.
Return Rates Surpass Sales; AI Pin Services to Terminate on February 28
Initially, the AI Pin product was positioned as a solution to replace smartphones, boasting a lack of screen and the ability to conduct voice calls, messaging, and AI Q&A through voice and gestures. It could project a keyboard for use in the palm of one’s hand and attracted investments from OpenAI and Microsoft. This led to AI Pin being seen as a revolutionary device for personal users before its market launch.
Image / Humane Official Website
In April 2024, AI Pin was officially launched at a price of $699 (approximately NT$22,000) with a subscription fee of $24 per month, but it quickly garnered a significant amount of negative feedback due to poor experiences with projection and gesture sensing. Humane even requested users to stop using the original charger to avoid potential battery fires.
According to The Verge, by August 2024, the daily return rate for AI Pin even surpassed its sales rate, and in October, Humane reduced the price to $200 (approximately NT$6,550). The Verge described AI Pin’s functionality as “the worst product reviewed.”
Humane’s website indicates that some offline features of AI Pin, such as battery level display, will still be usable in the future; however, all features reliant on cloud connectivity will cease to function. Starting February 28, AI Pin will no longer connect to Humane’s servers, stopping support for calls, messages, and any cloud access-related services, while the cloud storage platform, Center, will also be shut down. Humane advises users to sync and download photos, videos, and notes stored on their devices via Wi-Fi before this date, or the data will be permanently deleted.
Further Reading: What is AI Pin? Will it Disrupt the iPhone? Why Are Major Players Like OpenAI and Microsoft Investing?
Editor: Li Xiantai
This article is republished in cooperation with: Digital Age