2024's Biggest Tech Flops: AI Devices and Mixed Reality Headsets Fail to Meet Expectations

Revisiting the 3 Biggest Hardware Flops of 2024

If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. Please also consider subscribing to WIRED The year began with such promise. Back in January, I remember sitting in a presentation hall at a Las Vegas hotel during CES 2024 as Rabbit CEO Jesse Lyu unveiled the R1. This colorful and fun pocket-sized AI companion promised to do everything, from ordering an Uber to answering all your vexing questions. My story on the R1 had just gone live and within hours -- I'm not trying to pat myself on the back here -- there were a lot of eyeballs on it. The device was unlike anything that had come before, and showed us a novel vision of how these newfangled AI agents would fit into our lives. Rabbit's R1 became the breakout story of CES, and the company claims it sold 100,000 units by March. Soon after it came Apple's Vision Pro -- a $3,499 mixed-reality headset that lets you escape the real world to watch movies, play games, and work in a cyber-office with multiple screens hovering around you. Apple had spent the year prior hyping it, and it was the first new product category for the company since the Apple Watch in 2015. A few months after that, Humane's Ai Pin arrived. Like the Rabbit, this was yet another AI assistant, though it was designed to be worn on your lapel. I was visiting my mom shortly before the Ai Pin launched, and out of the blue, she asked me if I had heard about this "pin" product, because she had heard of it on an Indian news channel. It was not only the talk of the town, but the talk of the world. These three spectacularly hyped products have one thing in common: They all flopped. Humane's Ai Pin barely worked and was widely panned by critics upon release. A short while later, more Ai Pins were being returned than purchased. (Do I need to mention the Charging Case posed a fire safety risk?) The company now wants to license its CosmOS operating system to third parties to be injected into cars and smart speakers, though this strategy has no product integrations to show for it. Rabbit similarly received a swath of negative reviews at launch as the R1 barely did anything, and many third-party integrations it featured were half-baked. The underlying software was revealed to be just a simple Android app. Oh, and there were critical security issues too.

5 tech failures in 2024 - From underwhelming to disappointing

2024 was a big year for technology but certain products didn't live up to the expectations, from Rabit R1 to Humane AI pin and even Apple Vision Pro2024 witnessed a surge in consumer electronics, ushering in a wave of innovation and excitement. However, amidst the breakthroughs, several highly anticipated products fell short of expectations. From the ambitious Rabbit R1 to the much-hyped Humane AI Pin, and even the technologically impressive Apple Vision Pro, these devices failed to captivate the market as anticipated. Let's try to understand more about them and what went wrong. I experienced the device in Mobile World Congress, Barcelona this year at the Qualcomm booth. While the technology does leave you spell bound initially, I felt even then that the utility is difficult to find. It is a sleek wearable device released in April of 2024, aimed to revolutionize how we interact with technology. Priced at a hefty $699 with a monthly subscription of $24, it promises a world of voice-controlled convenience, AI assistance, and seamless connectivity through T-Mobile. While the idea was intriguing, the reality fell short. Users often found themselves frustrated by sluggish voice commands, a limited range of features, and a battery that seemed to drain far too quickly. To truly win over consumers, Humane needs to significantly improve performance, expand the device's capabilities, and consider making it more accessible with a lower price point. Another way is patenting and perhaps selling the projector technology used in the device. Apple was on a roll in 2024 from new hardware to even better software we saw some of the best work from the Cupertino giant. This year alone we saw new iPhones, Macbooks, and iPads. All with new Apple silicones and Apple Intelligence receiving general favorable reports from critics and users alike. However, there was one highly anticipated product that couldn't retain the hype as much as it could have. The Apple Vision Pro, is Apple's first tryst with VR & AR all in one. While a marvel of engineering, the Vision Pro's exorbitant price tag and limited functionality made it a difficult purchase. The headset was dubbed heavy for prolonged use and the attached battery pack made the users question the design as well. Moreover, the application library is limited for the headset, keeping the general user away. Launched in January of 2024, Apple Vision Pro is now seeing functionality in use cases beyond entertainment. Like experience zones for vehicles and even medical surgeries. Hopefully, the next iteration should improve upon the challenges. The Rabbit R1, launched in March 2024, is a small, AI-powered device designed to enhance productivity and streamline communication. Priced at $699, it boasts features like hands-free interaction, intelligent note-taking, and seamless integration with various applications. However, drawbacks include a relatively high price point, limited initial functionality, and potential privacy concerns surrounding constant audio recording. Users also found the black and white display restricting, pointing out the device is just an add-on to their smartphone. A software update from CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity company, caused widespread blue screen crashes on Windows machines on July 19th. This disrupted operations at airports, banks, and businesses. While initially suspected to be a cyberattack, the issue stemmed from the update itself. CrowdStrike resolved the problem on their end within hours, but affected machines needed manual reboots, causing further disruption. EV buyers are all for innovation and competition in the electric vehicle space, but these cars have to work. Fisker released their Ocean in 2023, and while the market was excited about the idea, the reality was disappointing. I kept hearing stories - over 100 incidents of power loss! Doors that wouldn't open, brakes that failed, and even cars rolling away when parked! It was terrifying. Then, in June, they filed for bankruptcy and suspended production This whole experience highlights the need for rigorous testing before these vehicles hit the market.