Humane AI Pin: A Short-Lived Experiment in Wearable AI Technology

Humane AI Pins Will Stop Working at the End of This Week

If you were one of the few artificial intelligence enthusiasts who bought a Humane AI pin, the time has come to say goodbye. The wearable device, which CNET principal writer Scott Stein said was like having "an AI-powered Star Trek communicator pinned to your shirt," is being killed off at the end of this week. Humane announced last week that it is being acquired by HP and will stop selling the pins. The end of days is coming quickly for your pin if you already have one -- it'll stop functioning on Friday. "Your Ai Pin will continue to function normally until 12 pm PST on February 28, 2025," Humane said in the statement. "After this date, it will no longer connect to Humane's servers, and .Center access will be fully retired." The AI Pin features will no longer include calling, messaging, AI queries and responses and cloud access, and on Feb. 28, all remaining consumer data will be deleted, the company said. Read more: Humane AI Hands-On: My Life So Far With a Wearable AI Pin "We strongly encourage you to sync your Ai Pin over Wi-Fi and download any stored pictures, videos, and notes from .Center before February 28, 2025," the statement said. "If you do not do this, your data will be lost upon deletion on February 28, 2025 at 12pm PST." A representative for Humane did not immediately respond to a request for comment. CNET's Scott Stein reviewed the device in April 2024, noting that the $699 pin seemed like science fiction but was a chore to use. "The ideas inside Humane's vision were interesting, but the execution -- and its total lack of connection with any phone -- made it feel absurd," Stein said on Tuesday. "Also it was hard to control, didn't work well and overheated extremely quickly." Stein enjoyed the language translation feature and said its camera quality was "fine but not great." The device did not respond to voice activation and instead must be constantly tapped to be put into service. The pin could read things out loud, try to identify cars, plants and locations, or describe a room, Stein said in his review. But not without issues. When he asked it to identify a can of Spindrift flavored sparkling water, it told him instead about a 2022 Apple TV Plus movie, possibly mishearing his asking the device to "look" for the movie's title, "Luck."

Humane AI Pins Will Stop Working by the End of the Month

If you're one of the artificial intelligence enthusiasts who bought a Humane AI pin, it's time to say goodbye. The wearable device, which CNET principal writer Scott Stein compared to "an AI-powered Star Trek communicator pinned to your shirt," is on its way out. Humane is being acquired by HP, and announced Tuesday that it would stop selling the pins. And don't think you'll have a lot of time to wind down your use of your pin, either -- this is a pretty accelerated timeline. Read more: Humane AI Hands-On: My Life So Far With a Wearable AI Pin "Your Ai Pin will continue to function normally until 12 pm PST on February 28, 2025," Humane said in the statement. "After this date, it will no longer connect to Humane's servers, and .Center access will be fully retired." The AI Pin features will no longer include calling, messaging, AI queries and responses, and cloud access, and on Feb. 28, all remaining consumer data will be deleted, the company said. "We strongly encourage you to sync your Ai Pin over Wi-Fi and download any stored pictures, videos, and notes from .Center before February 28, 2025," the statement said. "If you do not do this, your data will be lost upon deletion on February 28, 2025 at 12pm PST." A representative for Humane did not immediately respond to a request for comment. CNET's Scott Stein reviewed the device in April 2024, noting that the $699 pin seemed like science fiction but was a chore to use. "The ideas inside Humane's vision were interesting, but the execution -- and its total lack of connection with any phone -- made it feel absurd," Stein said on Tuesday. "Also it was hard to control, didn't work well and overheated extremely quickly." Stein enjoyed the language translation feature and said its camera quality was "fine but not great." The device did not respond to voice activation and instead must be constantly tapped to be put into service. The pin could read things out loud, try to identify cars, plants and locations, or describe a room, Stein said in his review. But not without issues. When he asked it to identify a can of Spindrift flavored sparkling water, it told him instead about a 2022 Apple TV Plus movie, possibly mishearing his asking the device to "look" for the movie's title, "Luck."

Those Star Trek-Style Humane AI Pins Will Stop Working by End of the Month

If you're among the smallish group of people who own a Humane AI pin, start saying your goodbyes. The wearable device, which CNET writer Scott Stein compared to "an AI-powered Star Trek communicator pinned to your shirt," is on its way out. On Tuesday, Humane announced that it would stop selling the pins, after the company was acquired by HP Inc. And don't think you'll have a lot of time to wind down, either -- this is a pretty accelerated timeline. Read more: Humane AI Hands-On: My Life So Far With a Wearable AI Pin "Your Ai Pin will continue to function normally until 12 pm PST on February 28, 2025," Humane said in the statement. "After this date, it will no longer connect to Humane's servers, and .Center access will be fully retired." The AI Pin features will no longer include calling, messaging, AI queries and responses and cloud access, and on Feb. 28, all remaining consumer data will be deleted, the company said. "We strongly encourage you to sync your Ai Pin over Wi-Fi and download any stored pictures, videos, and notes from .Center before February 28, 2025," the statement warns. "If you do not do this, your data will be lost upon deletion on February 28, 2025 at 12pm PST." A representative for Humane did not immediately respond to a request for comment. CNET's Scott Stein reviewed the device back in April 2024, noting that the $699 pin seemed like science fiction, but was a chore to use. "The ideas inside Humane's vision were interesting, but the execution -- and its total lack of connection with any phone -- made it feel absurd," Stein said on Tuesday. "Also it was hard to control, didn't work well and overheated extremely quickly." Stein enjoyed the language translation feature and said its camera quality was "fine but not great." The device did not respond to voice activation, and instead must be constantly tapped to be put into service. The pin could read things out loud, try to identify cars, plants and locations or describe a room, Stein said in his review. But not without issues. When he asked it to identify a can of Spindrift flavored sparkling water, it told him instead about a 2022 Apple TV Plus movie, possibly mishearing his asking the device to "look" for the movie's title, "Luck."

The $699 'AI pin' that launched less than a year ago is going to stop working at the end of February

Humane's wearable AI gizmo debuted to spectacularly bad reviews in April 2024. Back in November 2023, we wrote about an "AI pin" made by a company called Humane that owners would wear like a little Star Trek badge. The device could, in theory at least, provide AI-powered information on various topics, translate languages on fly, take photos, play music, and even work as a phone if you signed up for T-Mobile's monthly subscription package. But there's bad news for anyone who shelled out the $699 (eventually reduced to $499) price tag for one of these things: At the end of February, they're going to stop working. Humane (via Kotaku) has announced that sales of the AI pin have been halted, and worse, after 12 pm PT on February 28 -- just over a week from today -- the units will no longer be able to connect to Humane's servers. This means, in short, that AI pin features "will no longer include calling, messaging, AI queries/responses, or cloud access." Some functionality will remain available, but it doesn't sound like much: Humane said the AI pin "will still allow for offline features like battery level, etc." Frankly, if you're leading with "it'll tell you how much battery life you have left," I strongly suspect you don't have much else to offer. So, how did it end up like this? Humane said it's "winding down the Ai pin as we are moving onto new endeavors," but given that the AI pin didn't actually go into release until April 2024 -- less than a year ago -- I don't think anyone would call this a job well done and finished. The reality of the matter is probably more closely tied to the fact that the AI pin did not impress. A few reviews: Making matters worse, the charging case included with the device was a literal fire risk, and before long, according to The Verge, returns were outpacing sales. By May 2024, Humane was reportedly looking for a buyer, and early this month it found one: HP, which snapped up the company for $116 million, a fraction of Humane's reported self-valuation of $750 million to $1 billion. In any event, HP apparently held the same feelings about the AI pin as everyone else, which is to say it didn't want it. Anyone who purchased an AI pin within the past 90 days -- specifically, if the device shipped on or after November 15, 2024 -- is eligible for a refund, as long as the refund request is submitted by February 27, the day before the devices go offline. If you purchased one prior to that, you're out of luck. However, the planned replacements for the charge case at the root of the whole 'catching on fire' problem are not going to be shipped, so if you're waiting on one of those you'll receive a refund "for the portion of your original purchase price that was allocated to the charge case" at some point after February 28. Any pending orders for AI pins will be automatically cancelled and refunded in full. AI pin users also have until February 28 to download any data on the devices: After that, it will all be deleted and gone, which is pretty much what Humane reckons you should do with the pins, too. "We encourage you to recycle your AI Pin through an e-waste recycling program," its FAQ concludes. "Many electronics retailers and local recycling centers accept wearable devices."

It's Time to Say Goodbye to Humane AI Pin, Company Sells AI Assets to HP

Users must download their data before then to avoid losing access. If we turn back the clock to this time last year, then the Humane AI pin would be the shiny new thing from MWC that everyone in the tech space was talking about. But not all chatter is good, and many reviewers who got their hands on the AI pin bashed it for slow and inaccurate response, and how involved it gets in using the tiny gadgets on a daily basis. Now, Humane is ready to throw in the towel as they confirm selling off their AI business to HP. Humane shared in their support document that they are "winding down the consumer Ai Pin" and they mentioned the cause for this is "our business priorities have shifted". HP has acquired most of the company in a $116 million deal. As a part of this, Humane will stop selling their AI pin from today onwards. The deal also includes Humane's "AI-powered platform Cosmos, highly skilled technical talent, and intellectual property with more than 300 patents and patent applications", as mentioned in another press release. What does all this mean for the current buyers of the Humane AI pin? According to the company, the pin will remain functional till 12PM PST or 3PM ET on February 28, 2025. After this, the device will no longer connect to Humane's servers, and .Center access will fully retire. The AI pin will lose access to make calls, send messages, answer queries, or access your data from the cloud. This is why Humane is requesting users to download all their data before the judgment day arrives. Failing to do so will result in a loss of all your data. That's because the company will be deleting all their user data after the provided date and time. This was already in the stars for the company, given the rough criticism it had received. Plus, there was already a lack of a market for such single-use AI gadgets like this and the Rabbit R1. The $700 price tag didn't help its case, either. What are your thoughts about this story? Let us know in the comments below.

Humane has killed its Ai Pin less than a year after its release

Humane's Ai Pin is about to become an expensive brick, with the startup set to discontinue service less than a year after the wearable AI gadget began shipping. It seems the fairy tale is over, and they can no longer deny that their golden carriage is actually a rotting pumpkin. In a post to Humane's support website, the company announced that all of its Ai Pins will stop working in just 10 days. All Ai Pins will stop connecting to Humane's servers on Feb. 28, and all customer data will be permanently deleted as well, with users instructed to download anything they don't want to lose before then. Humane has also ceased selling the gadget effective immediately. "We are writing to inform you that, effective immediately, we are winding down the consumer Ai Pin as our business priorities have shifted," read Humane's post. "Your engagement has meant the world to us, and we deeply appreciate the role you've played in our innovation journey." Technically, the Ai Pin won't be completely useless. Humane notes that it will still offer offline features such as battery level. However, there's little point in checking how much battery is left on a gadget that only tells you how much battery it has left. Any of the Ai Pin's functions which require cloud connectivity will no longer work, including voice commands, AI responses -- is basically anything you'd actually want to use the wearable for. "We recognize that this may be an unexpected change, and we are here to support you," wrote Humane. This help is temporary though, as customer support for the Ai Pin will also be discontinued on Feb. 28. You may be in luck if you bought a Humane Ai Pin within the last few months. Humane states that Ai Pins which shipped on or prior to Nov. 15 are eligible for a refund, as they'll still be within the 90-day return window. However, you must submit your refund request by Feb. 27. If you purchased the Ai Pin but it hasn't shipped yet, you'll be refunded and your order automatically cancelled. Humane's mandatory subscriptions will also be automatically cancelled, with prepaid months refunded proportionately. Unfortunately, anyone who has had their Ai Pin for longer has little recourse. Once the Ai Pins stop working, Humane advises customers to dispose of them via an e-waste recycling program. The Ai Pin's shutdown appears to be the result of HP acquiring "key AI capabilities" from Humane, which was also announced today. The $116 million acquisition includes Humane's AI-powered operating system CosmOS, a swathe of intellectual property, and key technical personnel. Said employees will form HP's new AI innovation lab HP IQ. "Humane's AI platform Cosmos, backed by an incredible group of engineers, will help us create an intelligent ecosystem across all HP devices from AI PCs to smart printers and connected conference rooms," HP's President of Technology and Innovation Tuan Tran said in a statement. The Humane Ai Pin's sad, inglorious death may be sudden, but it's hardly a surprise. Initially made available for preorder in Nov. 2023, the Ai Pin aimed to supplant users' smartphones, and could perform functions such as taking photos, answering questions, and sending messages. Designed to pin to users' clothes, the then-$699 wearable was operated primarily via voice commands, and featured a tiny palm projector instead of a screen. Unfortunately, issues began to arise before the Ai Pin was even released, with a promotional video showing the Ai Pin answering questions incorrectly. Though Humane quickly updated the clip, numerous other problems with the Ai Pin soon became apparent once users started getting their hands on the device in April last year. Users found the Ai Pin slow and frustrating to use, with issues ranging from broken music playback, to an unreadable projector display, to excessive heating up. That isn't even to mention the problems with the Ai Pin's charging case, which was found to be a fire safety risk in June. Humane instructed its customers to stop using the charging case immediately, subsequently recalling it. Though the company initially offered replacements, in light of today's news it will now refund users "the portion of your original purchase price that was allocated to the Charge Case" instead. Within less than five months from Humane's Ai Pins shipping, customers were reportedly returning the devices quicker than the company could sell them, and by October Humane had cut its price down to $499. Humane reportedly began searching for a buyer within mere weeks of shipping the Ai Pin, aiming to sell for $750 million to $1 billion. While its $116 million deal with HP isn't nothing, it's still a far cry from those lofty ambitions. And though Humane was able to offload its software, it looks like HP wants nothing to do with the Ai Pin hardware.

Humane's AI Pin is Dead and All Devices Will Stop Working in 10 Days

Humane is shutting down and will stop selling its AI Pin -- less than a year after it released the much-hyped product. On Tuesday, Humane announced that it would be selling most of its company to HP for $116 million. The company will also discontinue its AI pin, the camera-equipped wearable device which was once marketed as a tech product that would replace smartphones. In a post on its website, Humane confirms that all of its AI Pins will stop working in just 10 days after its announcement. It has also ceased selling the device effective immediately. All AI Pins will stop connecting to Humane's servers on February 28 and all customer data will be permanently deleted. Humane is encouraging users to download any photos, videos, and notes stored on their Pins before they are permanently deleted at that shutdown time. After the shutdown, Humane says the device's offline features like "battery level" will still work, but "any function that requires cloud connectivity like voice interactions, AI responses, and Center access" will not. This move will leave AI Pin owners with an essentially useless gadget. "We are writing to inform you that, effective immediately, we are winding down the consumer Ai Pin as our business priorities have shifted," Humane says in the post. "Your engagement has meant the world to us, and we deeply appreciate the role you've played in our innovation journey." Humane will only offer refunds on AI Pins that are "within the 90-day return window from their original shipment date," according to an FAQ about the shutdown. Refunds "must be submitted by February 27, 2025." Users who have paid for a Humane subscription past February 28 will get a "prorated refund." Humane was founded by Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno, the husband-and-wife team who helped design the original iPhone. The company raised Humane $240 million from investors including Open AI's CEO Sam Altman and the company touted its first product as a groundbreaking smartphone killer. However, when Humane launched its AI Pin in April 2024, the product was a commercial and critical failure. Reviewers blasted the AI Pin's shortcomings, including its poor camera -- agreeing that the $700 device just didn't work and was barely able to complete its basic functions.

Humane AI Pin shutdown proves the hype was always fake

The Humane AI Pin, a wearables device launched 10 months ago at a price of $700, has been rendered inoperative following the sale of its software to HP Inc. Customers have been informed that nearly all functions will cease on February 28, 2025. Humane stated users could utilize limited "offline" features after that date, including the ability to check battery status. However, functions requiring cloud connectivity, such as voice interactions and AI responses, will be unavailable. The company encouraged users to recycle their AI Pins through e-waste programs. Initially marketed as an AI assistant with an innovative, screen-free design, the Humane AI Pin failed to deliver on its promises, garnering significant criticism from users and tech reviewers alike. Following its release, the device encountered multiple operational issues. For instance, gadget reviewer Marques Brownlee labeled it "bad at almost everything it does, basically all the time" in a viral YouTube video that has accumulated approximately 8.5 million views. Despite raising over $240 million in funding, including investments from notable figures like Sam Altman of OpenAI and Marc Benioff of Salesforce, the startup struggled to maintain momentum. Reports indicated that more consumers returned the AI Pin than purchased it between May and August 2024. After experiencing a sharp decline in user satisfaction following early reviews, the founders reportedly advised employees to prepare for negative feedback. The device launch featured high-profile appearances, including Naomi Campbell showcasing the pin during Paris Fashion Week. However, a review in The Verge concluded with the sentiment, "I'll take my phone back now, thanks," emphasizing the device's inadequacies. Humane's decision to discontinue the AI Pin aligns with its broader shift. In a recent announcement, the company confirmed its acquisition by HP, which will establish an AI innovation lab named HP IQ, utilizing Humane's personnel and over 300 patents. The financial terms of the deal include a payment of $116 million to Humane for its staff and intellectual property. The company has stated that customers who received a Humane AI Pin after November 15 will be eligible for refunds, although no trade-in plan or replacements are available. The closure of the product's operations leaves approximately 10,000 sold units potentially heading toward e-waste status, contributing to the growing concern over discarded technology. Experts in electronics recycling have noted that small wearables like the AI Pin present challenges due to their labor-intensive recycling processes and difficult-to-remove components, particularly the batteries obscured by glued-down panels.

All of Humane's AI pins will stop working in 10 days

AI hardware startup Humane has given its users just ten (10!) days notice that their Pins will be disconnected. In a note to its customers, the company said AI Pins will "continue to function normally" until 12PM PT on February 28. On that date, users will lose access to essentially all of their device's features, including but not limited to calling, messaging, AI queries and cloud access. The FAQ does note that you'll still be able to check on your battery life, though. Humane is encouraging its users to download any stored data before February 28, as it plans on permanently deleting "all remaining customer data" at the same time as switching its servers off. The company says it will refund customers who are still within the 90-day return window, so long as they submit by February 27. It also notes that users who opted to wait for a replacement for the device's combo fire hazard and Charge Case will now be refunded "the portion of [their] original purchase price that was allocated to the Charge Case." In the original recall note, that amount was $149 if ordered separately or $129 if ordered as part of the "Complete System" bundle. Today's discontinuation announcement was brought about by the acquisition of Humane by HP, which is buying the company's intellectual property for $116 million but clearly has no interest in its current hardware business. The AI Pin was famously panned at launch by a broad section of reviewers, including our own Cherlynn Low, who called it "the solution to none of technology's problems." HP says the acquisition will bring Humane's "engineers, architects and product innovators" to a new team called HP IQ, which it describes as an "AI innovation lab focused on building an intelligent ecosystem across HP's products and services for the future of work." Good luck with that! The New York Times reported last June that Humane was seeking a $1 billion buyout after only receiving 10,000 orders, and cited HP as an interested company. Another seven months of reality has apparently persuaded Humane's founders to settle for a far lower figure.

Humane's AI Pin is dead | TechCrunch

Humane announced on Tuesday that it has been acquired by HP. The hardware startup is immediately discontinuing sales of its $699 AI Pins. Humane told customers who had already purchased an AI Pin that their devices will stop functioning before the end of the month, at 12 PM PST on February 28, 2025, according to a blog post. After that date, the company says its AI Pins will no longer connect to Humane's servers. The devices will no longer be capable of calling, messaging, AI queries/responses, or cloud access. Humane is advising AI Pin owners to transfer their important photos and data to an external device immediately. Humane made a splash in April 2024 by launching its AI Pin, which it positioned as a smartphone replacement. The Bay Area startup, founded by Apple employees Bethany Bongiorno and Imran Chaudhri, raised more than $230 million to create the AI Pin. However, Humane's AI Pin disappointed many early reviewers and customers, creating a crisis for the company. At one point this summer, Humane's returns for the AI Pin started outpacing its sales, according to The Verge. Humane did not immediately respond to TechCrunch's request for comment.

Humane AI Pin Is Shutting Down After HP Acquisition

Humane, the company that developed a widely-covered AI pin, is shutting down and selling its assets to HP for $116 million. This sale includes Humane's CosmOS operating system, more than 300 patents and applications, and its technical staff. As a result of the sale, the AI Pin, a product that was not well-received when it launched in April 2024, will no longer continue. After the acquisition, HP plans to use Humane's technology and team to create a new division called HP IQ to improve AI features in its products. The sale price of $116 million shows a big drop from the billion-dollar value Humane was aiming for earlier this year. The company has had problems, and the AI Pin likely did not meet expectations shortly after it launched. It's not hard to see why, even we said it looked exhausting to use. It was $699 at release, with a $24 monthly subscription to work with phones. That's hard to agree to, when I can buy a smartwatch that works with my phone for under $100. The AI Pin, which was meant to replace features from a smartphone, will stop working on February 28, 2025, at 3 PM ET. After that time, features that require the internet, like calling, messaging, AI queries, and cloud access, will no longer be available. However, you can still use all the fun offline features, like... checking the battery level. Humane recommends that users save any data stored on their devices before the shutdown. If you want a refund for your AI Pin, you can only get it if you're within 90 days of the original shipment date, and you must make the request before February 27, 2025. You will get a partial refund if you have a subscription that goes beyond the shutdown date. Customers waiting for replacement charging cases from a previous recall will also receive a partial refund. It seems like HP was more interested in Humane's technology than selling the product. HP is launching a new division called HP IQ, which will focus on creating a smart ecosystem that includes personal computers, printers, and connected conference rooms. Source: The Verge, Humane

The Humane AI Pin is officially dead -- and HP is picking up Humane's leftovers

The Humane AI Pin saga is finally at an end with news that HP will be purchasing parts of the AI device maker for $116 million, far less than was perhaps desired by the ex-Apple managers who started the the company. According to a Bloomberg report, the deal includes a majority of Humane's employees, the AI Pin platform and intellectual property -- including over 300 patents. However, the purchase will not include the Ai Pin bussiness, which will be shutdown. Apparently, the founders Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno will create a new AI division at HP focused on adding artificial intelligence to HPs PCs, printers and other devices. This new division will include many members of the current Humane team. "There will be a time and place for pure AI devices," Tuan Tran, HP's head of AI initiatives told Bloomberg. "But there is going to be AI in all our devices -- that's how we can help our business customers be more productive." Dead. Starting on February 28, the Pin will "no longer connect to Humane's servers." Meaning that the AI device will no longer make calls, send messages or AI queries. In a support document, Humane encourages owners to download pictures, videos and notes before that date. According to an FAQ about the shutdown, refunds will only be offered to those who purchased the AI Pin within the original 90-day return window "from their original shipment date." Subscriptions will also get a prorated refund. Anyone waiting for a replacement for the exploding charging case will get a refund for "the portion of your original purchase price." The Ai Pin was introduced in November of 2023 by Humane, founded in 2018, and pitched as a "new type of standalone device with a software platform that harnesses the power of AI to enable innovative personal computing experience" aimed at moving people away from their smartphones, as most AI devices seem to be marketed. The delayed device was previewed at Mobile World Congress in 2024 and Tom's Guide got a hands-on look at the device, which had us cautiously excited. Though we questioned whether or it was solving a problem no one had, a portentous feeling. The $700 Ai Pin officially launched in April to nearly universal poor reviews. The nicest review we found, which was optimistic, still concluded, "the hardware and AI just aren't able to do a lot of essential phone things either as reliably, faster, better, or even at all." It did not get better from there. By May, the founders were looking to sell with a valuation between $750 million and $1 billion. A surprising number for a company that never got a valuation during its funding rounds and was torn apart by reviews. At the time, Tom's Guide Managing Editor of Computing Jason England opined that Humane and competitor Rabbit were built to be snapped up by a larger fish like Apple. HP was rumored to be interested in buying the company then, though it's unclear when its interest was solidified to the current actual buyout. "But when I look at these companies, I can't help but feel there's an ulterior motive. Namely that the devices are more of a proof of concept that people can buy -- the physical manifestation of a pitch deck for acquisition by the likes of Apple or Google," England wrote. In June, it was revealed that the charging case for the device featured faulty battery cells that could potentially burst into flames. The dumpster fire raged on when an August report indicated that over $1 million in product had been returned to Humane by disappointed customers. It was also reported that Humane had only sold 10,000 Ai Pins and accessories by August, a fraction of the expected 100,000 units it expected to sell. By December, Humane was walking back its support of the Ai Pin and instead focusing on its AI platform dubbed CosmOS. That AI operating system was now being pitched as available for a number of devices including phones, smart speakers and cars and meant to work via cloud-based and on-device models. Based on what Tran told Bloomberg, this seems to be what HP really wants for its own products.

The Humane AI pin is dead. I think AI gadgets aren't far behind.

If you were banking on Humane's Ai Pin being the Next Great Thing, this week was not your week. After skidding out of the gate in its debut, Humane's expensive AI gadget spent the last year searching for an audience until, on Tuesday, it was revealed that the company was being sold to HP for spare parts. The $116 million deal doesn't just shift Humane's ownership from one hand to another; it pretty much guarantees that the company's main product -- a magnetic AI-powered pin -- will be totally crippled in the process. According to Humane, owners of the Ai Pin can expect all of the device's main functions to stop working by next week. That's a blow to Humane and its hopes of selling an entirely new category of hardware, but the failure of the Ai Pin isn't just about Humane, it's about the future of AI hardware. While Humane's pin wasn't the only AI gadget on the scene, it was by far the most high profile. Before the AI Pin was even released, Humane was positioning its $700 device as a variety of things:: an AI fashion statement, a camera, a personal assistant, and,, in some cases, even a replacement for your phone. According to Humane, the AI Pin wasn't just another device; it was a different way of computing. For one, it didn't have a traditional screen; instead, it opted for a projection-based display powered by hand gestures. Even the projector, though, was meant to be used sparingly. The point was to -- with the help of AI -- build an ambient computing device that did a lot of what a phone would do but free of the app and screen-based experience. Those are obviously lofty ambitions, and maybe even admirable ones, but there's just one problem: the Ai Pin didn't really do much of the above. While the foundations were there, the experience of using the Ai Pin wasn't exactly what most would consider refined -- especially for a device that debuted at $700 and required a monthly subscription (for cellular data) to use. Voice commands weren't exactly consistent, which was a major problem for a device without a screen; pictures from the pin were often dark and grainy; there were major overheating problems with the Ai Pin's charging case that warranted a recall; the list goes on. Ultimately, there was a disconnect between what the Ai Pin promised to do and what it actually did, and that didn't sit well with current or prospective buyers. Those stumbles left the Ai Pin in a rough spot and the idea of a new wave of AI gadgets in an even rougher one. Humane wasn't the only company with stumbles. A similar AI gadget made by Rabbit -- its R1 device that does have a screen -- faltered similarly out of the gate. While Rabbit hasn't packed it in (it's currently courting ex-Humane users by giving out free R1s), neither device left a particularly good impression on consumers who were willing or considering taking a leap into AI hardware. As a result, neither gadget has done much to convince naysayers of AI hardware who have (rightfully) questioned whether either the Ai Pin or the R1 even needed to be standalone devices to begin with. Their contention is that all of it could just be done with an app, which -- touché. Naturally, that leaves AI hardware in a difficult spot. With a less-than-ideal test sample and an unimpressed audience, the case for AI coalescing around a device that's already very popular -- your phone -- is stronger than ever. In some ways, that's a shame. Ambient computing, while not executed to the high degree that people expected, was actually an interesting proposition. As much as I love my phone, I also recognize that it hijacks my time and attention around every turn. If I could compute effectively without being sucked into the app vortex of my phone, I would. Unfortunately, as YouTuber Marques Brownlee put it, the phone is still "OP," which is to say the best way of computing on the go. So, with a bad taste in the mouths of AI hardware hopefuls and phones hoovering up all of the AI ingenuity, the idea of an AI device feels further from reality than ever. To hammer that point home even more, it appears that the only employees being retained in HP's acquisition of Humane are those who worked on the gadget's operating system, CosmOS. As reported by TechCrunch, those employees will be tasked with building AI systems for HP's computers, printers, and conference rooms -- a far cry from the pioneering hardware promised by the Ai Pin. It's hard to say anything with full certainty, but the future of AI hardware doesn't exactly look bright at this point. Maybe Rabbit will save the day with a second go-around, but if I were a betting man my money wouldn't be on more AI pins.

All Humane AI Pins Will Stop Working, as HP Acquires the Company

I Tested 4 Chrome Browser Extension AI Chatbots, and This Is the Best One There's bad news for anyone who bought (and chose not to return) a Humane AI Pin, as every single unit will soon stop functioning. However, any fans of HP may benefit from the news, as the company has acquired the expertise behind the flawed product. Make the Most of Your AI Pin While You Can If you bought a Humane AI Pin, then prepare for it to stop working (in the main) on February 28. While the offline features of the devices will still function, the pins will "no longer connect to Humane's servers." Which means that features such as calling, messaging, AI queries/responses, and cloud access will all cease to work. Anyone who purchased their Humane AI Pin within the last 90 days can apply for a refund. However, according to Humane's FAQ about the development, applications for refunds "must be submitted by February 27th, 2025." Anyone who bought their AI Pin more than 90 days ago is stuck with it, and cannot apply for a refund. This is all due to HP acquiring Humane, with, according to a press release, the company having paid $116 million for the "AI-powered platform Cosmos, highly skilled technical talent, and intellectual property with more than 300 patents and patent applications." Humane was seen as an exciting startup, and certainly the founders believed in their ability to change the world. The AI Pin was famously hyped up while it was in development, before being massacred in a series of scathing reviews. Marques Brownlee actually called it "the worst product I've ever reviewed." While Humane did sell thousands of units of the device it thought could replace your smartphone, The Verge reported that, at one point, returns were outpacing sales. So, an acquisition started seeming somewhat inevitable. HP Has Acquired Humane's AI Knowledge Humane is reported to have been looking for a buyer for a while, with Bloomberg claiming that the startup valued itself at up to $1 billion. In the end, it was acquired for a fraction of that price, with HP bagging platforms, patents, and staff members for just $116 million. While this is clearly bad news for AI Pin owners, or anyone who foresaw a rosy future for Humane, HP and its customers may benefit. The Humane team will form a new division at HP focused on innovating in the AI space, and "building an intelligent ecosystem across HP's products and services for the future of work." Related How 7 Different Professions Are Using AI Technologies Wondering how AI is transforming different professions? Here are some examples of how various industries are leveraging AI technologies. Posts

HP buys Humane, but not its AI Pins

Is DeepSeek AI safe? Everything you should know before using it Summary HP is acquiring Humane for $116 million, but it does not include the consumer AI Pin Humane has stopped selling the AI Pin immediately and all existing devices will become unusable after Feb 28, 2025. Humane will delete all consumer data on Feb 28, 2025. Remember the Humane AI Pin, which launched in April 2024? The $699 AI device had a rocky launch, plagued by fundamental issues -- it just did not deliver anything close to what it promised. Worse, the hardware was not up to par, with Humane mailing all its 37 AI Pin owners in June 2024 to stop using the bundled charging case due to a potential fire hazard. Well, HP has decided to end Humane's agony by acquiring it. Related 4 ways your Wear OS watch already outperforms the Humane AI Pin Devices like the AI Pin might be the future. But today, they're no better than a smartwatch Posts HP is acquiring Humane for $116 million, but the deal excludes the company's AI wearable business. Instead, HP will gain access to the company's intellectual property, talent, and CosmOS. Humane separately announced that it will immediately discontinue sales of the AI Pin, and all previously sold devices will cease functioning after February 28, 2025. Any offline features will work even after this date, but online features like AI access and calling will stop working. Essentially, the device will turn into a paper brick after February 28, 2025. Humane will provide refunds to AI Pin customers still within their 90-day return window. However, they must submit a refund application, with the company providing prorated refunds for the Humane subscription. This might not go down well with customers who got the AI Pin soon after launch, as the shutdown will turn their $700 wearable into junk within a year of launch. As part of the shutdown, Humane will delete all consumer data stored on its servers on February 28, 2025, at noon PST. So, if you have used the AI wearable to take pictures, videos, or notes, download them from Humane's .Center before that. Oh, and don't expect Humane to send you a replacement for the faulty charging case. Instead, the company will provide you with a partial refund of your purchase price after February 28, 2025. Humane's shutdown was a long time coming Close Bloomberg reports Humane's founders, Imran Chaudhuri and Bethany Bongiorno, will lead a new HP IQ division that will focus on integrating AI into PCs, printers, and other devices. The AI startup started looking for buyers in May 2024, likely after realizing how big of a failure the AI Pin was. Humane reportedly sought acquisition offers ranging from $750 million to $1 billion. HP is purchasing the company for only $116 million -- nearly half the amount raised by Humane from its investors.

The Humane AI Pin never had a chance

David Pierce is editor-at-large and Vergecast co-host with over a decade of experience covering consumer tech. Previously, at Protocol, The Wall Street Journal, and Wired. Ten days from now, the Humane AI Pin will be able to tell you how much battery it has left, and essentially nothing else. To be fair, though, it couldn't do that much before. And it doesn't matter anyway, because you almost certainly didn't buy one. But if you did, that's the bad news: Humane is shutting down the AI Pin -- almost exactly a year after it first started shipping the little chest-mounted device -- and has sold some of its remnant technology to HP.

Company Behind $700 AI Device Announces All Of 'Em Will Be Bricked In 9 Days

Do you remember Humane's AI Pin? It was a small $700 device that was supposed to replace your phone, using AI to answer any question and solve all your problems. Well, guess what? It flopped. And now the company behind is being bought by HP, and all the AI Pins still out there will stop working in about a week. Tech startup Humane's small, wearable AI Pin launched in April 2024. It was pitched to the world (and investors) as a Star Trek-like combadge that could tell you the time, answer questions about any topic, translate language on the fly, and even play music. And all of this was done via a single tap on the device and voice commands. If this sounds too good to be true, well, you are apparently smarter than a lot of the people who invested money in this thing. The AI Pin was a disaster. Reviews called it bad and claimed it was often wrong, assuming it even worked at all. Others pointed out that everything it did was stuff your phone could do already, and your phone could do far more via its touchscreen. By August 2024, people were returning their AI Pins back faster than Humane was selling them. In October, the device's price was dropped to $400. And now, anyone still using the AI Pin will soon be screwed. On February 18, Humane announced that most of the company had been acquired by printer magnate and computer maker HP for $116 million. Humane also announced that it was immediately stopping all sales of its AI Pin. But that's not all: All remaining AI Pins out in the world will stop working on February 28. Technically, the device will still be sort of functional, but it will only be able to do tasks that don't require the cloud or AI features. Humane mentions the ability for the device to tell you how much battery charge it has left as a feature that will still work. Wonderful. Anyone who bought a AI Pin in the last 90 days can return the device for a refund. But for everyone else who bought one early and held onto their tiny little AI box, they won't get a penny back. "First and foremost, thank you for being an early adopter of Ai Pin," posted Humane. "Your support, feedback, and enthusiasm have been instrumental in shaping this technology, and we are truly grateful to have had you on this journey with us. We are writing to inform you that, effective immediately, we are winding down the consumer Ai Pin as our business priorities have shifted."

The Humane Ai Pin Will Become E-Waste Next Week

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 story of the infamous Humane Ai Pin is coming to an end. This week, the company announced that HP -- known for its computers and printers that always seem to need a refill -- will acquire several assets from Humane in a $116 million deal expected to close at the end of the month. HP will get more than 300 patents and patent applications, a few Humane employees -- including founders Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno -- and Humane's Cosmos operating system. Late in 2024, Humane looked to license this operating system so that third parties could inject the AI voice assistant into other products, like cars. However, nothing materialized. Humane became Silicon Valley's "next big thing" in late 2023 when it unveiled its AI wearable, equipped with a ChatGPT-powered assistant and a laser-projected display, that promised to replace your smartphone. But when reviews arrived at launch in 2024 -- you can read ours here -- it was panned. The issues were seemingly endless: It frequently overheated; the AI hallucinated often; there were hardly any useful features; the projector was annoying ... and so on. Unsurprisingly, HP doesn't want to do much with the Ai Pin hardware. Sales have effectively stopped, and Humane will issue refunds to anyone who bought a pin after November 15, 2024 (if you did, why?). Existing Ai Pins will cease to function after noon Pacific on February 28. Almost every core feature will stop working -- but you can still find out how much battery is left! -- and your data will be deleted, so make sure you sync and download it now. As for HP, it plans to integrate Humane's Cosmos AI into its products to "unlock new levels of functionality for our customers and deliver on the promises of AI." Good luck with that. In the meantime, Humane engineers will form a group called HP IQ, an innovation lab that will apparently build an ecosystem of smart features throughout HP's line of products. Maybe that'll mean a printer that will finally not drive its user crazy? Fingers crossed. All the top gear news of the week in one place. Here's more you may have missed this week: Apple announced this week that Apple Intelligence will be coming to its Vision Pro headset as a part of visionOS 2.4, though the update is expected to roll out in April. It doesn't just bring the suite of artificial intelligence features -- like ChatGPT-powered writing assistance, Genmoji, and Image Playground -- it claims to greatly improve the guest experience on Vision Pro. Currently, if you want to let someone try the Vision Pro, the owner has to wear it first to authenticate and unlock the headset, and then enable Guest Mode. Running visionOS 2.4, guests can wear the headset, and owners will receive a notification on their iPhone or iPad (which needs to be nearby) to allow access. AVP owners can also now choose what apps guests can see, and guests can save their eye and hand setup for up to 30 days so they won't have to run through the tutorial and setup of the headset every time. A new app -- Spatial Gallery -- is also bundled into visionOS 2.4. Curated by Apple, it will feature spatial videos, photos, and panoramas designed to be viewed on the headset. Apple says you can expect new content regularly from photographers, brands, and behind-the-scenes moments from Apple Originals like Severance. There are several other minor features in visionOS 2.4, but one notable addition is tied to the rollout of iOS 18.4. In April, Apple Vision Pro owners will magically find a new app on their iPhone running iOS 18.4 (it will also be available to download for everyone else). The app is called Apple Vision Pro, and it's designed to let you discover new content to enjoy on the Vision Pro, allowing you to queue up a movie or remotely download an app so that you don't need to spend extra time in that headset you dropped $3,500 on. The app will also feature tips and headset software information, too. On a related note about Apple Intelligence, Apple confirmed this week that Visual Intelligence (which lets you use the iPhone 16 camera with a ChatGPT-powered Siri to identify and learn more about objects around you) will come to the iPhone 15 Pro models in a software update. This comes after the announcement of the iPhone 16e, where Visual Intelligence is baked into the Action Button. iPhone 15 Pro users can trigger it via the Action Button or the Control Center. Every new version of Wi-Fi brings faster speeds, better security, and enhanced stability. The first wave of routers is always super expensive, and there's little point in updating until you have devices that support the new standard. But now that the latest phones and laptops support Wi-Fi 7, companies like Eero are introducing reasonably priced Wi-Fi 7 mesh routers. Say hello to the Eero 7 and Eero Pro 7, announced this week and shipping on February 26. Building out its Wi-Fi 7 range, the Eero 7 is the dual-band (2.4-GHz and 5-GHz) entry-level option, which promises wireless speeds up to 1.8 Gbps and two 2.5 Gbps Ethernet ports on each router. An Eero 7 two-pack can cover up to 4,000 square feet, and, though it lacks the speedy 6-GHz band, it does offer all the other goodies Wi-Fi 7 has in store, including enhanced WPA3 security, Multi-Link Operation (MLO) to connect on multiple bands and channels simultaneously, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) for more connected devices, and 4K-QAM to pack more data into each signal.

HP acquires Human Ai and gives the AI pin a humane death

Humane AI Pin's short, bumpy ride is over. HP announced on Tuesday (February 18) that it was acquiring the company and absorbing some employees for $116 million. According to a report in Bloomberg, the Human AI pin will be discontinued. In a release on the acquisition, HP notes that it will "acquire key AI capabilities from Humane, including their AI-powered platform Cosmos, highly skilled technical talent, and intellectual property with more than 300 patents and patent applications." It makes no mention of hardware. Humane AI was a fascinating wearable AI computing device that arrived in November 2023. Instead of a screen, the device featured a camera to watch your world and a tiny projector; you held out your hand and could see little messages and information from the pin. You interacted with the platform through voice and gestures. It sounded, at the time, like the future. Humane AI Pin, though, ran aground in April 2024 when early adopters delivered scathing reviews. YouTube giant Marques Brownlee called it "The worst product I've ever reviewed... for now." That conclusion and a collection of other terrible reviews more or less sealed its fate. Well, that and issues with the batter clip that may have been a fire hazard. Even TechRadar rated it one of the biggest tech flops of 2024. HP, though, sounds more than impressed with the system's AI capabilities and plans to weave them (or some form of them) throughout HP products. From the release: Humane's engineers "will help us create an intelligent ecosystem across all HP devices from AI PCs to smart printers and connected conference rooms. This will unlock new levels of functionality for our customers and deliver on the promises of AI." For HP, which has been comparatively quiet on the AI innovation front, this acquisition could be a real boon to its business. As for the Humane AI team, they have nothing but praise for their new owners. In a release on the Humane website, Bethany Bongiorno and Imran Chaudhri, Co-founders of Humane, wrote, "We're excited to join HP at such a pivotal moment in the industry and help shape the future of intelligent experiences," said. Humane's release also makes no mention of the AI Pin. This is good news for Humane AI fans and, obviously, less good news for those who paid $699 for the pin. Perhaps HP will offer them, discounts on whatever HP products end up featuring Humane AI.

Humane Bricks Its AI Pin as It Gets Acquired by HP for $116 Million

Humane AI Pin customers have until Feb. 27 to get a refund, while HP plans to stick AI in its printers as it acquires Humane for $116 million. Humane fell down the drain of AI hype, and legacy tech company HP is here to scrape up whatever is leftover of the AI wearable’s once-ambitions. HP bought up Humane’s CosmOS operating system and IP, including the tech for the AI Pin, for $116 million. The sale means the end for Humane. Unfortunately, for any lingering AI Pin owners, your device will be effectively bricked by Feb. 28. That $116 million sounds like a lot until you remember Humane was once valued at $850 million. The AI device maker had reportedly sought an initial sale price of closer to $1 billion. At the close of Tuesday's workday, HP declared it acquired Humane’s OS, its “highly skilled technical talent,†along with its 300 patents and patent applications. Tuan Tran, HP’s former president of the company’s printing arm and new lead on the company’s AI endeavors, said in a release that the buyout would “rapidly accelerate our ability to develop a new generation of devices that seamlessly orchestrate AI requests both locally and in the cloud.†That means HP is looking to develop its own suite of AI-centric devices. More than that, HP wants to put Humane’s CosmOS operating system into everything, from its PCs to “smart printers and connected conference rooms.†Have you been frustrated by getting your office printer? Imagine it now running with an AI chatbot. Tran told Bloomberg he was impressed most by CosmOS’ ability to use both on-device and cloud-based AI models. That still sounds like the same thing Google, Apple, Microsoft, and every other major tech company is promoting with their latest products. HP simply wants its slice of the pie with proprietary AI technology. Humane had been looking to sell barely a month after it released its initial product, the AI Pin. Initial reviews found the device was largely ineffective at what it was supposed to do, namely, act as a personal wearable assistant to help you ignore your phone. At launch, the device’s AI was slow to respond and was prone to making mistakes. Humane launched its device in April last year, but over the next few months, it couldn’t move as many devices as it initially intended. Humane later had to recall its charging case, warning it was a possible fire hazard. With the sale, Humane is no longer selling any more pins. In a message sent to customers, the company said all pins would stop functioning at noon PT, Feb. 28, just 10 days after the sale. A support document details how Humane asks customers to download any stored pictures or videos before the cut-off date. According to an FAQ, the only few features that will continue to work is the ability to ask it about its battery level. Current owners have until Feb. 27 to get a refund; if you want a replacement battery pack, you’ll get a refund for the device instead. Last October, the AI wearable company pivoted to focus solely on CosmOS as an AI operating system, attempting to license it out to fellow businesses with an SDK. CosmOS promoted its AI agent capabilities, essentially the ability to run multiple AI models to complete complex tasks. The company’s founders promoted how the OS could “remember†previous conversations and activities. The former Apple staff who headed up Humane, Imran Chaudhri, and Bethany Bongiorno, are moving on to HP. Bloomberg reported that they will head a new division within HP. This will focus on AI for existing devices and likely not any AI-centric wearables. So far, we have yet to encounter an AI-specific device that does anything more than what you can accomplish with your smartphone. That doesn’t mean companies big and small aren’t still trying. We expect to see a slew of AI wearables from Meta and smaller brands this year. We’ll see if enough customers were burned by Humane (literally and figuratively) that they learned their lesson.

Humane's AI Pin is dead, as HP buys startup's assets for $116M | TechCrunch

Humane announced on Tuesday that most of its assets have been acquired by HP for $116 million. The hardware startup is immediately discontinuing sales of its $499 AI Pins. Humane alerted customers who have already purchased the Pin that their devices will stop functioning before the end of the month -- at 12 PM PST on February 28, 2025, according to a blog post. After that date, the company says its AI Pins will no longer connect to Humane's servers. The devices won't be capable of calling, messaging, AI queries/responses, or cloud access. Humane is advising AI Pin owners to transfer their important photos and data to an external device immediately. Humane says it will also dissolve its customer support team for the AI Pin on February 28. The news brings an end to the short-lived, buzzy hardware startup. Humane made a splash in April 2024 by launching its AI Pin, which it positioned as a smartphone replacement. The Bay Area startup, founded by ex-Apple employees Bethany Bongiorno and Imran Chaudhri, raised more than $230 million to create the device. However, Humane's AI Pin disappointed many early reviewers and customers, creating a crisis for the company. At one point last summer, Humane's returns for the AI Pin started outpacing its sales, according to reporting from The Verge. Adding insult to injury, Humane also told customers to stop using the device's charging case, citing battery fire concerns. In October, the company dropped the price of its AI Pins by $200. HP is acquiring Humane's engineers and product managers, according to a blog post announcing the acquisition. The Humane team will form the basis of a new group within HP called HP IQ, which it describes as an "AI innovation lab focused on building an intelligent ecosystem across HP's products and services for the future of work." HP will also acquire some of Humane's technology, including its CosmOS AI operating system. Humane recently showed an ad suggesting the AI operating system could run on a car's entertainment system, a smart speaker, a TV, and an Android phone. This technology could be used to integrate AI into HP's personal computers and printers. Humane had sought to be acquired in May of 2024 for a much higher price, between $750 million and $1 billion, according to a report from Bloomberg. Humane did not immediately respond to TechCrunch's request for comment.

Humane's AI Pin is no more and owners are left with nothing

The Humane AI Pin company is being shut down and its much-vaunted, badly-received device is being switched off. It could have been so much better. It was controversially expensive, it had many faults, but now the much talked about and seemingly rarely bought Humane AI Pin is no more. Humane has announced that certain of its technologies and staff are being acquired by HP, and the Humane AI Pin is being switched off. This is how it so very often goes with technology -- you don't know what you've got until it's gone. People weren't very impressed with say, the adorable 12-inch MacBook but they lamented its passing when it was discontinued, for instance. Maybe it's a nostalgia thing as it happens a lot -- even the Touch Bar seems to be more popular now it's gone. But fortunately, what's rarer is that people who actually bought the device are not left seething. If you had a Touch Bar on your MacBook Pro, nobody took it away from you. But if you bought a Humane AI Pin, you're screwed. You spent $700 to buy it and then you paid $24 per month for a subscription. If you bought it from the moment it went on pre-order sale on November 16, 2023, you may have spent a further $360 or so on that subscription. That's gone. No one is getting their subscription back, but worse, only certain people will get a refund on their $700 purchase of what is about to become jewellery. Unless you bought a Humane AI Pin in the last 90 days, you're stuck. So make the most of its not awful but not brilliant phone call capabilities, its hard to see projection, or its reportedly slow AI features. You've got until 12 noon Pacific Time on February 28, 2025. There is an argument that a separate AI device that you use instead of, or alongside, your iPhone, just could never take off. The ubiquity and sheer compelling usefulness of the iPhone was surely a problem for the Humane AI Pin, just as it presumably was for the Rabbit R1. That Rabbit R1 is still on sale, it's just been forgotten. Whereas now that the Humane AI Pin is over, it's hard not to wish it had worked out. It cost too much for what it did, it didn't really do all that was promised, but the idea seemed mostly very good, very appealing. There were issues over privacy and when the pin was listening to you, when it was recording. That doesn't seem to have been fully thought through, despite the years of development that were conducted in great secrecy. Yet the instant you saw it one being worn, such as at Paris Fashion Week, it looked almost good. It was bigger than expected, and given the poor battery life, but you saw it and you could see that this was the future. Specifically, you could see that it was the future of "Star Trek: The Next Generation." While it was many times deeper than the combadges on that show and its sequels, it was roughly the same width and height, and you wore it at the same position. So here was a device you could just talk aloud to and it would phone someone. Or you could ask questions, and it would tell you the answer. Plus it seemed to do so reasonably privately -- not in the sense of security, but in the sense of just being audible to you. In today's world where either no one knows how to hold a phone next to their ear, or they presume we all want to hear both sides of their vital conversations, that seemed appealing. It seemed appealing, it looked good, but this is a case of appearances not being all they needed to be. The battery lasted only about five hours in real world tests, and the charging case had to be recalled because of overheating issues. That five hours of battery life really required what Humane called a Battery Booster. This connected magnetically to the Pin and that magnet is how the device was held onto clothing. You'd put the magnetic backing under your shirt or blouse, then the Humane AI Pin would snap onto the front. This is exactly how many or most wireless microphones work, and it would be fine, except a Pin weighs a lot more than a mic. So where microphones tend to be wearable on any clothing, the Humane AI Pin's weight would pull down on light material. It weighed too much, it cost too much for what it did, and then in the end Humane AI Pin customers have been left having lost a lot of money. The announcement of it closing down is not going to win the makers any fans, either. "Your engagement has meant the world to us, and we deeply appreciate the role you've played in our innovation journey," says the company in a statement, before signing the message off "warmly." Yet if things have soured for the Humane AI Pin customers, they haven't gone well for the company. While the press release about HP's acquisition is carefully worded, it appears that the Humane company itself is over. HP is buying "key AI capabilities from Humane, including their AI-powered platform Cosmos, highly skilled technical talent, and intellectual property with more than 300 patents and patent applications." While HP continues to release products, its glory days in computing are long gone. If there is even a plan to make a HP AI Pin, as it once made a HP iPod, it's unlikely to happen. Humane is said to have begun looking to be acquired pretty much immediately after its AI Pin came out and was so very poorly received. It was looking to be bought for between $750 million and $1 billion. Instead, HP has got the lot for $116 million. So Humane's makers have got a lot less money than they had hoped for, but they are going to get a salary from HP.

HP Acquisition Hammers the Final Nail in Humane AI's Coffin - Phandroid

The debut of the Humane AI pin on the consumer tech scene was one that was filled with obstacles, and despite big promises from Humane towards a smartphone-free future, the device never really took off. The months that followed would prove disastrous for the company, and it was reported later on that company founders Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno were looking to sell the company's business to interested buyers. READ: Multiple Refunds Paint a Bad Picture for the Humane AI Pin With that said, HP - yes, that HP - recently announced that it's entered into an agreement towards the acquisition of "key AI capabilities" from Humane, a deal which amounts to around $116 million. The deal will see HP acquiring Humane's Cosmos AI platform, as well as its personnel and other intellectual property, along with patents and patent applications. An official statement from Chaudhri and Bongiorno reads: We're excited to join HP at such a pivotal moment in the industry and help shape the future of intelligent experience... HP's scale, global reach, and operational excellence -- combined with our design-led approach, integration technology, and engineering expertise -- will redefine workforce productivity. In terms of hardware, the AI Pin included features like a magnetic clip-on design, a gesture-based control system, and a mini projector which displayed the user interface. As for actual usability however, many noted that the laser projector was barely visible when outdoors, the software occasionally logged users out, and battery life was barely enough to last a day, in addition to overheating issues, all of which were unacceptable for a 700-dollar price tag. As for the leftover AI Pins, Humane will shut down all online services and will issue customers refunds until February 27. The AI Pins will be essentially bricked afterwards, save for the battery monitoring feature which will remain running on-device.

Humane's AI Pin is dead, as HP buys startup for $116M | TechCrunch

Humane announced on Tuesday that it has been acquired by HP for $116 million. The hardware startup is immediately discontinuing sales of its $499 AI Pins. Humane alerted customers who have already purchased the Pin that their devices will stop functioning before the end of the month -- at 12 PM PST on February 28, 2025, according to a blog post. After that date, the company says its AI Pins will no longer connect to Humane's servers. The devices won't be capable of calling, messaging, AI queries/responses, or cloud access. Humane is advising AI Pin owners to transfer their important photos and data to an external device immediately. Humane says it will also dissolve its customer support team for the AI Pin on February 28. The news brings an end to the short, buzzy hardware startup. Humane made a splash in April 2024 by launching its AI Pin, which it positioned as a smartphone replacement. The Bay Area startup, founded by ex-Apple employees Bethany Bongiorno and Imran Chaudhri, raised more than $230 million to create the device. However, Humane's AI Pin disappointed many early reviewers and customers, creating a crisis for the company. At one point last summer, Humane's returns for the AI Pin started outpacing its sales, according to reporting from The Verge. Adding insult to injury, Humane also told customers to stop using the device's charging case, citing battery fire concerns. In October, the company dropped the price of its AI Pins by $200. HP is acquiring Humane's engineers and product managers, according to a blog post announcing the acquisition. The Humane team will form the basis of a new group within HP called HP IQ, which it describes as an "AI innovation lab focused on building an intelligent ecosystem across HP's products and services for the future of work." HP will also acquire some of Humane's technology, including its CosmOS AI operating system. Humane recently showed an ad suggesting the AI operating system could run on a car's entertainment system, a smart speaker, a TV, and an Android phone. Humane had sought to be acquired in May of 2024 for a much higher price, between $750 million and $1 billion, according to a report from Bloomberg. Humane did not immediately respond to TechCrunch's request for comment.

Humane's $700 Ai Pin Discontinued and Defunct After Less Than 1 Year

Humane today informed customers that it is discontinuing its $700 Ai Pin at the end of February, with the device set to be taken offline less than a year after it launched in April 2024. The Ai Pin will work until 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time on February 28, which is just 10 days from now. At that point, Ai Pin features like calling, messaging, AI queries and responses, and cloud access will stop being available. Humane recommends that Ai Pin users sync their devices over Wi-Fi to download stored pictures, videos, and notes before February 28 because data will be deleted after that. The sudden discontinuation of the Ai Pin comes as Humane is being sold to HP for $116 million. HP is purchasing Humane's Cosmos AI platform and more than 300 patents and patent applications, plus HP will be hiring Humane's employees. Humane does not plan to provide the majority of customers with a refund, even though the Ai Pin worked for under 12 months. Refunds are only available to customers who are within their 90-day return period. Customers who purchased an Ai Pin on or after November 15, 2024 will get a refund, but other users are out the full $700. Note that all refunds must be submitted by February 27. Humane recommends that customers recycle their Ai Pin through an e-waste recycling program, as no online features will remain functional and it will only be able to provide offline information like battery level. Additional information about the Ai Pin's discontinuation is available on the Humane website.

It's finally over for Humane's AI Pin -- here's who can get a refund

Table of Contents Table of Contents 'Winding down' Refunds Humane -- the maker of one of the most poorly received gadgets in recent years -- will have its assets acquired by HP, the company revealed on Tuesday. The deal is worth $116 million, according to a Bloomberg report, though Humane has not confirmed this detail. The same news outlet reported last year that Humane was seeking between $750 million to $1 billion from a prospective buyer. In a post on its website, Humane said it's "winding down the Ai pin as we are moving onto new endeavors," adding that it will share more information about its plans later. Recommended Videos Humane launched the AI Pin a year ago, touting it as a groundbreaking wearable device designed to harness the full power of artificial intelligence. The intriguing gadget had no display, relying instead on voice prompts, and beaming words and images onto the palm of your hand. Please enable Javascript to view this content It cost $699 and required a $24-per-month subscription to access all of its AI services. There was certainly a lot of buzz around the gadget, but it was a massive flop. The first reviews, which came out last spring, found that it fell well short of expectations, with limited, buggy functionality ruining the user experience. MKBHD shared a video about the AI Pin titled: The worst product I've ever reviewed ... for now. Digital Trends described it as looking like "a miserable smartphone replacement." And now, following poor sales, Humane's AI Pin is about to perish. 'Winding down' On an FAQ page posted on its site on Tuesday, Humane said that "effective immediately, we are beginning the process of winding down the consumer AI Pin." It said the AI Pin is no longer available for new purchases, and that from February 28 at 12 p.m. PT, the device will no longer connect to Humane's servers. At the same time, all customer data, including personal identifiable information (PII), will be permanently deleted from its servers. Refunds Humane said that if you have placed an order for the device but haven't completed onboarding, your order will be automatically canceled, and yo'll receive a full refund. But it added that anyone who bought it more than 90 days ago will not be able to get their money back. As per the company's website: "Refunds are only available for customers who are still within the 90-day return window from their original shipment date. You are eligible to receive a refund if your product shipped on or after November 15th, 2024. All device shipments prior to November 15th, 2024 are not eligible for refunds. All refunds must be submitted by February 27th, 2025." The news will come as a major disappointment to the early adopters who had been hoping that Humane would stick with the AI Pin, rolling out updates to improve it or even bringing out a second version, but it's not to be. Humane can be praised for trying something new -- it's just a shame that it launched well before it was ready.

AI Startup Humane to Wind Down Wearable Pin Business, Sell Assets to HP

(Reuters) - Artificial intelligence startup Humane is shutting down its wearable pin business and selling its assets to personal computer maker HP Inc for $116 million after getting disappointing reviews and lack of orders for the product. The deal gives HP access to the startup's Cosmos operating system, technical talent and intellectual property, helping beef up the personal computer maker's AI portfolio amid a weak recovery in its core market. The acquired talent will form HP's new AI innovation lab focused on integrating Humane's machine learning capabilities, HP said in a release on Tuesday. The startup, founded by ex-Apple veterans, was one of many that looked to make a splash in the AI boom with its wearable AI pin that provided voice assistance to its users. The company sought to position its product as a companion which could integrate AI into people's everyday lives. The firm raised around $241 million from Microsoft, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and others. But orders declined sharply following poor reviews from many early customers, including a scathing one from technology influencer Marques Brownlee, popularly known as MKBHD, who has nearly 20 million subscribers on YouTube. At one point, returns for the company's pins were outpacing its sales, the Verge reported last year. Humane said in a blog post that the pin will function normally till February 28, after which the device will no longer connect to the company's servers, rendering features like calling, messaging, and AI queries inactive. (Reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo)

It's Dead, Jim: Maker of Star Trek-Like AI Pin Folds As HP Scoops Up Tech

HP is buying technology from Humane, a startup that developed a Star Trek-like smart pin that flopped amid negative reviews and a $699 price tag. HP announced it will spend $116 million to acquire "key AI capabilities from Humane," as well as absorb the startup's staff and over 300 patents and patent applications. Bloomberg also reports that Humane's AI pin business will be wound down. But the startup's technology will live on through upcoming AI-infused products from HP. "This investment will rapidly accelerate our ability to develop a new generation of devices that seamlessly orchestrate AI requests both locally and in the cloud," HP President of Technology and Innovation Tuan Tran said in the announcement. Specifically, HP plans to harness "CosmOS," the operating system that Humane built to help users tap into different AI agents on their devices. "Humane's AI platform Cosmos, backed by an incredible group of engineers, will help us create an intelligent ecosystem across all HP devices from AI PCs to smart printers and connected conference rooms," Tran added. Humane didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. But in the announcement, Humane's co-founders, Bethany Bongiorno and Imran Chaudhri, said they are "excited" to join HP. As part of the deal, HP is establishing a new AI innovation lab, dubbed HP IQ, that'll be staffed by former Humane engineers and employees. Humane's demise is a cautionary tale for new AI products; the San Francisco startup created a lot of hype in 2023 while debuting a smart pin device that was meant to replace smartphones. The resulting product was designed to mainly interface solely through an AI voice assistant. But reviews blasted the smart pin for its slow processing speeds and shoddy implementation. It also didn't help that the product could pose a fire hazard. By May 2024, the company was already looking to sell, originally for $1 billion. Humane's site also discontinued sales for the smart pin.

Humane wrapped its bet against the iPhone in the cloak of AI and lost - 9to5Mac

The Ai Pin is officially dead. Parts of Humane have been sold to HP, and the Ai Pin will cease to function in a week. Cause of death? An outdated and undercooked bet against the iPhone made by former Apple engineers that Humane tried to disguise as artificial intelligence hardware. Bloomberg reports that HP has agreed to acquire assets from Humane for $116 million. Humane's sole product, Ai Pin, won't become an HP product. Instead, HP will put the parts of Humane that it is acquiring into its AI portfolio. Despite the product's name, there wasn't a whole lot of AI in the Ai Pin. The hardware was basically an Apple Watch-sized version of the iPhone. Only it had no display aside from a low fidelity projector that relied on an unintuitive hand gesture system to control. It could summarize your text messages, but not your text messages. Just the ones that people sent to your special Ai Pin phone number. The actual AI aspects mostly relied on early versions of ChatGPT. Apple isn't doing enough with Siri to make its voice assistant competitive with ChatGPT, but at least the iPhone is where the best features of ChatGPT exist -- and they're evolving daily. Before it was called Ai Pin, the product was being developed during a global conversation around smartphone addiction and too much screen time in our everyday lives. Apple even released a feature to ease concern called Screen Time that allegedly tracks device usage. Then the pandemic made remote work the norm, and screens became the only way we stayed connected. Humane still positioned its product as the solution for helping you reconnect with the real world and use your phone less. The hardware was managed through a website because Humane knew that requiring a smartphone app was antithetical to the device's purpose. Personally, I never got to try the Ai Pin. The concept is cool, but it's a smartphone accessory that extends the experience -- like AirPods or the Apple Watch -- not a standalone device worth hundreds of dollars for the hardware and another monthly fee for the product to do anything. Humane co-founders and former high level Apple executives Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno join HP as part of the deal, helping the PC maker integrate AI into its products. Much less glamorous than what the duo were previously selling, but marketing the miniature smartphone without a display or much battery as an artificial intelligence product seems to have been a bet that ultimately paid off. $116 million seems generous for a company that sold customers $500 and up hardware with a $24/month subscription that ceases to function 10 months and two weeks after release.

HP is buying Humane and shutting down the AI Pin

Humane is selling "key AI capabilities" to HP for $116 million and will stop selling AI Pin, the company announced today. AI Pins that have already been purchased will continue to function normally until 3PM ET on February 28th, Humane says in a support document. After that date, Pins will "no longer connect to Humane's servers." As a result, AI Pin features will "no longer include calling, messaging, AI queries / responses, or cloud access." Humane is also encouraging users to download any pictures, videos, and notes stored on their Pins before they are permanently deleted at that shutdown time.

Humane shuts down Ai Pin business as HP buys the company, devices will be bricked

Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. What just happened? In what should come as little surprise, other than the fact that it managed to last this long, Humane is shutting down its Ai Pin business. Most of the company is being acquired by HP for $116 million, but as its new owner doesn't want the Ai Pin, the devices will be essentially bricked on February 28 - and a lot of owners won't be receiving refunds. HP's $116 million acquisition of Humane includes the AI firm's CosmOS platform, IP portfolio that covers more than 300 patents and patent applications, and some of its employees. Something that isn't part of the deal is the Ai Pin business, which HP has wisely said "thanks, but no thanks" to. It means the segment is being shut down along with all the devices, which have now been discontinued from sale. On February 28 at 12pm PST, Ai Pins' cellular functions will cease and they will no longer connect to Humane's servers. This means AI queries/responses, calls, texts, and data usage will no longer be possible. The battery level will still work, which should be of great consolation to owners. One might imagine that those who spent $700 on an Ai Pin will be getting their money back. In more bad news for anyone who made such a mistake, the only buyers receiving refunds are those who bought an Ai Pin in the last 90 days - only those Ai Pins that shipped on or after November 15, 2024, are eligible. Refunds must be submitted by February 27, 2025. Anyone with a $24 monthly subscription that continues past February 28 will receive a prorated refund. In June 2024, Humane recalled its Ai Pin charging case over potential fire risks. Those still waiting for a replacement will "automatically receive a refund for the portion of your original purchase price that was allocated to the Charge Case after February 28, 2025." The Ai Pin, a square device that can be attached to clothing, features a camera, microphone, a touch pad, and a laser projector that displays the GUI on a user's hand. It can also make calls and send messages. As the name suggests, the main draw was supposed to be its AI smarts that enabled it to answer questions and act as an assistant. There was a lot of hype surrounding the device before launch - the startup hoped the Ai Pin would eventually replace smartphones - but it arrived to scathing reviews, with Marques Brownlee calling it the worst product he's ever reviewed. The $700 price and $24 subscription certainly didn't help. A few months later, it was reported that Humane was looking to sell the company for a hugely ambitious $1 billion, or around 90% more than what HP just paid. Following the charging case recall, it was reported that more people were returning the Ai Pin than buying it. The fact that HP, a company long criticized for its printer ink cartridge DRM, bought Humane hasn't been missed by the public. Will we soon see AI in OfficeJet Printers?

Humane, Whose AI Pin Flopped, to Sell Assets to HP | PYMNTS.com

Humane, creator of the Ai Pin that received a wave of negative user reviews, is shutting down and selling its assets to HP for $116 million. HP will get Humane's artificial intelligence (AI)-powered platform called Cosmos, its technical staff and intellectual property with more than 300 patents and patent applications, Humane announced Tuesday (Feb. 18). The Humane team will form HP's new innovation lab, HP IQ. The HP acquisition marks a swift downfall for the AI wearable, which began shipping less than a year ago. It was aiming for sales of 100,000 units but fell far short at 10,000. Now, the startup is telling Ai Pin owners that their devices will stop working after Feb. 28, and all stored data will be deleted. Humane was founded by Apple executives Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno, who are married. The startup raised $230 million since its 2018 inception, according to Crunchbase. Its investors included Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, SoftBank and Microsoft. Once named a Time magazine best invention of the year, the Ai Pin disappointed users who complained about malfunctions, its high price and overheating problems. Due to sluggish sales, the Ai Pin had to cut its price from $699 to $499. Users also had to pay $24 a month excluding taxes and fees for connectivity and cloud storage. "The pin was more vanity than practical. There was really nothing more people could do with the Humane Ai Pin that they couldn't otherwise do with their smartphones," Kushank Aggarwal, founder of Digital Samaritan, told PYMNTS. "Plus, voice-only devices haven't experienced mass adoption yet, so in that respect, it was destined to fail." Once compared to the Star Trek communicator badge, the Ai Pin has a square shape and attaches to a shirt or coat using magnets. It uses AI to answer questions and perform tasks, such as making calls, sending messages or taking notes. A laser display projects text onto the user's palm. Sensors detect hand gestures to control the device. But early adopters complained that the pin would drag down the front of thinner shirts, that it would overheat, it didn't work well, had slow response times, made frequent mistakes and its laser projector beaming text onto the hand was hard to read in bright light. An Engadget reviewer said that "the combination of holding out my hand to see the projected screen, waving it around to navigate the interface and tapping my chest and waiting for an answer all just made me look really stupid." Reviewer Marques Brownlee said it was "the worst product I've ever reviewed ... for now." Wired magazine's reviewer opined that "right now, there's nothing here that makes me want to use it over my smartphone," although he held out for the next version to be better. Anant Sood, co-founder of Worxogo, told PYMNTS that "people develop strong habits around existing technologies. ... The Humane Ai Pin required users to break smartphone habits across the board instead of breaking one small habit at a time. For new technology adoption, the perceived value had to significantly outweigh the effort to unlearn." Andrey Meshcheryakov, an engagement manager at Recombinators, said the company "struggled to identify a compelling use case and validate that its solution truly addresses it. If you're creating a new category, make sure there's a real demand or subpar consumer experience you're [hoping to solve] -- not just a futuristic concept people might find cool." Meshcheryakov pointed out that Humane, despite having "a dream team with Apple pedigrees," missed "several blind spots: a deep understanding of customer needs, orchestrating an impactful go-to-market strategy, offering a reasonable business model, and ultimately acing the solution design -- getting the combination of hardware, AI and user experience right." Moreover, Humane hyped its device before it was ready for prime time, Meshcheryakov told PYMNTS. "It's better to debut a quietly excellent product than a loudly proclaimed flop," he said. "Even a great product can falter with poor marketing, and a flawed product has no cushion at all. Additionally, the pricing model was a hard sell without proven value." For HP, the deal marks a significant step in its strategic transformation toward experience-driven computing and AI-powered devices. "This investment will rapidly accelerate our ability to develop a new generation of devices that seamlessly orchestrate AI requests both locally and in the cloud," Tuan Tran, president of technology and innovation at HP, said in a statement. HP plans to integrate Humane's AI capabilities across its entire product line, from AI-enabled PCs to smart printers and connected conference rooms. As part of the acquisition, Humane's engineers, architects and product innovators will join HP's Technology and Innovation Organization, forming a new division called HP IQ. This AI innovation lab will focus on developing intelligent ecosystems across HP's product range, specifically targeting workplace productivity solutions. Humane co-founders Bongiorno and Chaudhri highlighted the potential of combining HP's global reach with Humane's design-led approach and engineering expertise. "HP's scale, global reach, and operational excellence -- combined with our design-led approach, integration technology, and engineering expertise -- will redefine workforce productivity," they said. The move comes at a crucial time in the tech industry, as major hardware manufacturers race to integrate AI capabilities into their products. HP's acquisition positions the company to compete more effectively in the growing market for AI-enabled devices and workplace solutions. The transaction is expected to close by the end of this month, subject to customary closing conditions.

The Humane AI Pin debacle is a reminder that AI alone doesn't make a compelling product

Please, hardware companies of the world, stop jumping on this bandwagon. The demise of Humane is perhaps the most predictable tech story of 2025. The company tried to build some buzz around its AI Pin in late 2023, marketing the device as a tiny replacement for smartphones and playing up the fact that Humane's co-founders were former Apple employees. The problem was that it wasn't really clear what the AI Pin would do to justify its $700 asking price (plus a $24/month subscription). It didn't take long for things to spiral out of control. The AI Pin was released in April of 2024 to some of the worst reviews I've ever seen for a consumer tech product. Just a month after launch, reports surfaced that the company was already trying to be acquired -- for the positively ludicrous sum of $750 million to $1 billion dollars. At the same time, it was rumored that Humane sold only 10,000 Pins, a far cry from the 100,000 they had planned for. HP was named as a potential suitor last May, and the company smartly waited until they could pluck Humane for a comparatively paltry $116 million. As it turned out, waving your hands and shouting about the promise of AI doesn't make it any easier to build compelling hardware -- we slammed its high price, terrible battery life, slow performance, excessive heat and hard-to-use projected display. (And Engadget was far from the only publication to eviscerate this device.) For a device whose main interface was conversational, the challenges the AI Pin had answering questions or executing commands made it a non-starter. Even when it did what was asked, it did it in some strange ways, like sending generic texts instead of letting you dictate what exactly you wanted to say. Its camera rarely worked as intended; after taking photos and viewing them on the projector, the Pin would get extremely warm and sometimes just shut down entirely. Speaking of that projection screen, it was nearly impossible to actually see it outdoors, even on a cloudy day. And interacting with it made our reviewer Cherlynn Low want to "rip [her] eyes out." Oh, let's not forget that its extended battery case was recalled because it was a full-on fire hazard! The whole debacle is an illustrative example of how most consumer-grade AI isn't ready for prime time. Google and Apple may be trying to shove Gemini and Apple Intelligence down our throats on nearly every product they make, but those tools are additive, built on top of the strong foundations of each company's existing platforms. In Humane's case, there was nothing to fall back on. And the combo of terrible voice responses and recognition paired with a projector display that was not at all ready for prime time (not to mention the other hardware failings) was far too much to overcome. To be fair to Humane, building hardware is notoriously difficult; first-generation products often have glaring flaws, even when you're talking about massive companies like Apple. The first iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch may have shown huge promise, but they also had strange omissions and performance issues that made them hard to recommend to everyone. Some companies manage to figure that out; Pebble is a great example of a hardware startup that survived some early issues to find some success. It beat Apple, Samsung and Google to the smartwatch market, and did it in a way that has yet to be imitated (maybe that's why the company is being resurrected). The Pebble wasn't exactly the most elegant piece of hardware, but both the watch and its software worked well enough that it paved the way for the more advanced smartwatches we have today. Of course, that wasn't enough to keep Pebble alive, as the company eventually filed for insolvency and had its assets picked up by Fitbit (which was later purchased by Google, if you're keeping track). Humane's situation at launch wasn't entirely different -- it was trying to build a new type of hardware altogether, and history tells us that the first products in a new space are going to be far from perfect. But, if there had at least been a glimmer of useful software, Humane might have survived to improve on those hardware problems with a future version. But its assistant was so bad that it killed any potential that the AI Pin had. There was simply no intelligence to be found here, artificial or otherwise. My takeaway from the Humane disaster is that it's too soon to spend your hard-earned money on the promise of AI -- the marketplace isn't solidified at this point, and trusting a brand-new company like Humane to get this sort of thing right is several bridges too far. (If you're not convinced, look at the similarly flawed Rabbit R1.) Apple Intelligence is still half-baked at best, but at least you can turn it off and ignore it. But the AI Pin, well, relied completely on AI, and it wasn't just "not ready" -- it was one of the worst devices we've ever tried in our nearly 21 years as a publication. For some thousands of early adopters, that means their Pin will be a brick in just a few days, with no financial compensation coming their way. But hey, at least it will still be able to tell you its battery level.

Humane's AI Pin, Dubbed As Potential 'iPhone Killer' Dies This Month As Company Sells To HP For $116 Million Amid Poor Sales And Scathing Reviews - HP (NYSE:HPQ)

Humane Inc. has decided to discontinue its AI Pin and sell its assets to HP Inc. HPQ for $116 million. The AI Pin will cease to connect to Humane's servers after 3 PM ET on Feb. 28. What Happened: On Tuesday, Humane said in a support document that after Feb. 28, offline functions like checking battery levels will still work, but voice interactions and other cloud-based features will be disabled. Humane will offer refunds only to customers within the 90-day return window. See Also: Potential iPhone Killer? Humane AI Pin's Design, Interface 'Inherently Flawed,' Says Gurman: 'Can Merely Be An Extra Accessory' HP will acquire Humane's AI operating system CosmOS, over 300 patents, and the company's technical staff. Humane's co-founders Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno will lead a new AI-focused division at HP, noted Bloomberg. Why It Matters: The journey of the AI Pin, dubbed as potential "iPhone killer" has been tumultuous since its launch. Initially, the device was met with overwhelmingly negative reviews, with returns surpassing sales from May to August 2024. By June, only about 8,000 units remained with customers, and daily returns outpaced purchases. Subscribe to the Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox. Humane also faced another setback last year when it advised users to stop using the AI Pin's charging case due to a potential fire hazard. This issue was identified after a report of charging problems, further impacting the product's reputation. Despite these challenges, Humane attempted to improve the AI Pin by integrating OpenAI's GPT-4o model in May 2024. This upgrade promised enhanced speed and accuracy, with a 14% decrease in latency and 33% fewer incorrect answers. Ultimately, the combination of poor sales, technical issues, and negative reviews led to Humane's decision to sell its AI Pin assets to HP, marking the end of a challenging chapter for the company. Price Action: HP's stock dipped 0.088% to $34.17 in after-hours trading, following a 1.66% gain that pushed it to $34.20 at Tuesday's market close, according to Benzinga Pro. Photo via Shutterstock Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Consumer Tech by following this link. Read Next: 'Do Bad Reviews Kill Companies?': MKBHD Reacts After Humane AI Pin Video Sparks Concern On Social Media Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. HPQHP Inc$34.171.58%WatchlistOverviewMarket News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

"Truly a middle finger": Humane bricking $700 AI Pins with limited refunds

After launching its AI Pin in April 2024 and reportedly seeking a buyout by May 2024, Humane is shutting down. Most of the people who bought an AI Pin will not get refunds for the devices, which debuted at $700, dropped to $500, and will be bricked on February 28 at noon PT. At that time, AI Pins, which are lapel pins with an integrated AI voice assistant, camera, speaker, and laser projector, "will no longer connect to Humane's servers," and "all customer data, including personal identifiable information... will be permanently deleted from Humane's servers," according to Humane's FAQ page. Humane also stopped selling AI pins as of yesterday and canceled any orders that had been made but not yet fulfilled. Humane said it is discontinuing the AI Pin because it's "moving onto new endeavors." Those new endeavors include selling off key assets, including the AI Pin's CosmOS operating system and intellectual property, including over 300 patents and patent applications, to HP for $116 million, HP announced on Tuesday. HP expects the acquisition to close this month. Notably, Humane raised $241 million to make its pin and was reportedly valued at $1 billion before launch. Last year, Humane was seeking a sale price of $750 million to $1 billion, according to Bloomberg. But the real failure is in the company's treatment of its customers, who will only get a refund if they "are still within the 90-day return window from their original shipment date," Humane's FAQ page says. "All device shipments prior to November 15th, 2024, are not eligible for refunds. All refunds must be submitted by February 27th, 2025." AI Pins "will no longer function as a cellular device or connect to Humane's servers. This means no calls, texts, or data usage will be possible," according to the startup, which noted that users can't port their phone number to another device or wireless carrier. Some offline features "like battery level" will still work, Humane said, but overall, the product will become $700 e-waste for most owners in nine days.

HP to acquire much of Humane's assets, as AI Pin is dropped

The hardware start-up is immediately discontinuing its poorly reviewed product, with devices expected to cease functioning by the end of the month. HP has announced that it has a 'definitive agreement' to acquire much of US-based consumer electronics platform Humane's AI capabilities, including their AI-powered platform CosmOS, some technically skilled employees and intellectual property, for example more than 300 patents and patent applications. In line with the acquisition, Humane, which was founded by former Apple designers Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno, will cease to produce the AI Pin, a screenless wearable powered by AI technology. The device was created in 2023, however, a hefty price tag, poor reviews and issues of functionality, such as overheating leading to fire and a low battery, led to mass product returns, effectively ending its run. As part of the merger, HP will be bringing on board a number of Humane's skilled engineers, architects and product innovators, who will form HP IQ, the company's new AI innovation lab, which will focus on building an intelligent ecosystem. Reportedly, in May 2024, Humane sought to be acquired for a sum between $750m and $1bn, however, HP has since stated it will close the deal at the end of the month for $116m. AI Pins that have already been purchased will cease to function by 28 February and after that devices will no longer connect to Humane's servers. Speaking about the news, Tuan Tuan, the president of technology and innovation at HP said "This investment will rapidly accelerate our ability to develop a new generation of devices that seamlessly orchestrate AI requests both locally and in the cloud. "Humane's AI platform CosmOS, backed by an incredible group of engineers, will help us create an intelligent ecosystem across all HP devices, from AI PCs to smart printers and connected conference rooms. This will unlock new levels of functionality for our customers and deliver on the promises of AI." Also commenting, Bongiorna and Chaudhri said, "We're excited to join HP at such a pivotal moment in the industry and help shape the future of intelligent experiences. HP's scale, global reach and operational excellence, combined with our design-led approach, integration technology and engineering expertise, will redefine workforce productivity." Don't miss out on the knowledge you need to succeed. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic's digest of need-to-know sci-tech news.

HP buys Humane AI start-up for US$116 Million -- discontinues Ai Pin support

Humane has not clarified refunds for purchases made during the last 90 days. HP announced that it has acquired an AI assist wearable device startup company Humane which developed the now infamous Ai pin device. HP is getting 300 patents and patent applications, some of its employees and other Intellectual property from the deal. HP plans to integrate Humane's IP and expertise with its existing portfolio of consumer products. However, the Ai Pin devices are not a part of this deal, and from February 28, AI Pin's cloud software will no longer be available. Humane assured it will be processing refunds for recent purchases, including for its subscription plans. Humane's founders Imran Chaudri and Bethany Bongiorno who were design and software engineers for Apple Inc. will be forming a new division called 'HP IQ' in the company and be responsible for integrating AI in HP printers, PC and other devices. The company mentions its wearable devices will function until 12 PM PST on February 28, 2025, after which its Ai Pin's cloud-based features will no longer be available. Functions like calling, messaging, cloud access and other AI-enabled assist features will no longer work after the deadline, essentially becoming a bricked device. The company does make an assurance that it will delete the remaining consumer data permanently and hence requests its customers to download any vital data before the deadline. Those who purchased Ai Pin for US$ 700 in the last 90 days are eligible for a refund once a request is made, including those who have purchased subscription plans that amount to US$ 24 a month. The company however has not addressed refunds for those who have purchased at an earlier date- including the early adopters. The acquisition is expected to be completed by the end of this month. Humane Ai was hyped as a wearable Ai-enabled assist device projecting its interface on the user's hand and any surface to interact. Despite potential applications, a plethora of features and promising ideas, the company alienated many of its consumers with overpriced subscriptions, quality control, glitches and service issues for a device with features that eventually began to appear in smartphones. The company was founded in 2023 and started looking for a buyer in May 2024 with an asking price of up to US$ 1 billion. HP however acquired the company for US$ 116 million. HP does have AI-powered printers and hence it would make sense to acquire Humane for its expertise and patents rather than for its device. Even though the Ai Pin is a flop, absorbing patents, intellectual property and expertise should help catapult HP to achieve its goals. The company doesn't seem to be having any plans to have a dedicated AI device for the foreseeable future. In a statement to Bloomberg, Tuan Tran, President of Technology and Innovation at HP said, "There will be a time and place for pure AI devices But there is going to be AI in all our devices -- that's how we can help our business customers be more productive." It will be interesting to see how HP intends to integrate AI with PC and printers with Humane's IP and personnel. Acquiring a subscription AI wearable device seems fitting for the company as it is known to explore subscriptions but it remains to be seen if it will have any success.

HP to Buy Humane, Maker of the Ai Pin, for $116 Million

Sign up for the On Tech newsletter. Get our best tech reporting from the week. Get it sent to your inbox. Humane, the ambitious start-up behind the Ai Pin device that aimed to one day replace smartphones, agreed to sell parts of its business to HP for $116 million, the companies said on Tuesday. HP said it planned to buy Humane's "A.I. capabilities," including its software platform, intellectual property, patents and some employees. The Ai Pin will be shut down, Humane said in a message to customers. The deal caps a downfall for the high-flying start-up, which had heavily promoted the $699 pin with ads, a TED Talk and at Paris Fashion Week with supermodels. Humane had raised $240 million in funding from high-profile investors, including Marc Benioff, the chief executive of Salesforce, and his counterpart at OpenAI, Sam Altman, valuing the company at $850 million before it released a product. Humane was created by Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno, husband-and-wife founders who previously worked at Apple. The pair envisioned a wearable device that people would clip to their clothes and interact with using voice commands and a laser display projected onto their hand. The idea was to cut down on time spent staring at smartphone screens. But the Ai Pin, which began shipping to customers last spring, was a flop. Reviewers criticized the product, with the A.I. software often giving wrong answers or taking a long time to respond, while the pin's batteries sometimes overheated. Humane had hoped to sell 100,000 pins in its first year but only got around 10,000 orders. At one point, the company told customers to stop using their charging cases because of the fire risk. Last year, Humane hired an investment bank to sell itself, while also seeking new funding. The start-up sought a sale price of more than $1 billion. On Tuesday, Humane posted a letter to customers on the company's website which said that the pins would no longer work at the end of this month and that customer data would be deleted. "Our business priorities have shifted," the letter said. HP, which sells an estimated 53 million PCs a year, has said it wants to add A.I. capabilities to its laptops to make them more useful. Last year, HP worked with Microsoft to develop a line of A.I. computers called Copilot+ PCs. In its announcement, HP said that it would use Humane's technology to become a more "experience-led company." Humane's workers will be part of a new innovation lab called HP IQ that will focus on "building an intelligent ecosystem across HP's products and services." Mr. Chaudhri and Ms. Bongiorno will join the company, as will the majority of the start-up's employees, a HP spokeswoman said. "We are investing and innovating aggressively in new A.I.-powered capabilities and software," said Enrique Lores, president and chief executive of HP, during a call with analysts in November. "We will focus on delivering a cutting-edge A.I.-powered tech."

Humane Shuts Shop, HP Snaps Up Assets for $116 Mn

Humane will discontinue its AI Pin, with devices ceasing to function by February 28. HP announced an agreement on Tuesday to acquire key AI capabilities from Humane, the maker of the wearable Ai Pin introduced, for $116 million. This comes in the backdrop of Humane announcing the discontinuation of its AI Pin by February 28. The acquisition includes Humane's AI-powered platform Cosmos, technical talent, intellectual property, and over 300 patents and patent applications. This move aims to accelerate HP's transformation into an experience-led company. Tuan Tran, president of technology and innovation at HP, said in his LinkedIn post, "This investment will rapidly accelerate our ability to develop a new generation of devices that seamlessly orchestrate AI requests both locally and in the cloud." He added that Humane's AI platform, Cosmos, will help HP create an intelligent ecosystem across all HP devices, from AI PCs to smart printers and connected conference rooms, unlocking new functionality for customers. Humane also informed its customers that AI Pin features will no longer include calling, messaging, AI queries/responses, or cloud access. It encouraged its users to access all data before February 28, 2025, at 12 pm PST, post which it said consumer data will be permanently deleted. As part of the acquisition, a group of Humane engineers, architects, and product innovators will join HP's Technology and Innovation Organisation, forming HP IQ, a new AI innovation lab focused on building an intelligent ecosystem across HP's products and services. Bethany Bongiorno and Imran Chaudhri, co-founders of Humane, stated, "We're excited to join HP at such a pivotal moment in the industry and help shape the future of intelligent experiences." They believe that HP's scale, global reach, and operational excellence, combined with their design-led approach, integration technology, and engineering expertise, will redefine workforce productivity. Humane's AI Pin was released in a demo video without a screen. Users could interact with it using voice, touchpad, gestures, or by holding up objects in front of it to capture. The video also featured a laser projector that displayed text on the user's hand. The $24 per month subscription plan included a dedicated phone number, but it worked independently without a phone, paving the way for ambient computing. However, several users criticised the product and even resorted to breaking the devices. Besides, gadget reviewers called it "not good" and termed it the 'worst product ever reviewed'. Some of the key problems highlighted were the long latency, imperfect speech intonations, and even hallucinations. However, the biggest was the price point.

The Humane AI Pin: A $700 Brick of E-Waste

Roughly 10 months after it was released, the Humane AI Pin, a terribly executed and terrible product is now officially a $700 brick of e-waste after the company sold its software to HP and told its dozens of customers that they are now out of luck. Every Humane AI Pin ever created will stop functioning at the end of the month. Well, that is not exactly correct. As Engadget has pointed out, Humane told customers that nearly every function of the AI pin will stop working on February 28, but that true diehards can continue to access "offline" features, which primarily seems to be checking whether the battery is charged or not: "After February 28, 2025, AI Pin will still allow for offline features like battery level, etc., but will not include any function that requires cloud connectivity like voice interactions, AI responses, and Center access." Humane went on to say that "We encourage you to recycle your AI Pin through an e-waste recycling program." If you are not familiar, the AI Pin is a $700 piece of junk that was supposed to be an "AI assistant" but instead barely worked, was perhaps a fire hazard, and whose main functionality was triggering fragile venture capitalists on Twitter who self-immolated when the reviews were understandably very bad. There is very little to say about the Humane AI pin right now other than they are very lucky that the vast majority of tech journalists in the United States are too busy writing about the Elon Musk-led ransacking of the federal government to dunk on this company in the way it truly deserves (we are also doing this but need a break for five minutes). The company and the tech was wildly hyped, wasted gazillions of dollars (it raised $240 million in funding), made something terrible, existed for less than a year, and are now hazardous e-waste that is a huge pain in the ass to safely dispose of. The saving grace of all of this is that Humane sold so few devices (roughly 10,000) that the number of consumers who are affected is relatively low as these things go and therefore, there are fewer of them that need to be recycled. The Humane AI Pin is the latest in a long line of internet of things devices that cost a lot and then became e-waste when the company decided to stop supporting it or went out of business. On recycling: I have been to electronics recycling centers, and small wearables like this are labor intensive to recycle because they have small, difficult-to-remove batteries. An iFixit teardown wondered whether Humane pin was one of the "worst devices ever," and stated that both the Humane AI pin and the Rabbit R1, another AI wearable, "have batteries that are a pain to remove, hidden behind thoroughly glued-down panels," and that "making the battery so difficult to reach is perplexing at best." Anyways, we must never forget the Humane AI Pin. Good job everyone.

Remember the Humane AI Pin? It's now officially dead!

Early customers who purchased the $700 device will not get any refunds. It's almost been a year since I first encountered Humane's AI Pin at MWC 2024. Back then, skepticism was rampant -- not just from me, but from many others -- about the future of this $700 AI-powered device that struggled to perform even basic tasks. Fast forward a few months, and the company was fighting to maintain the credibility of its ambitious yet unfinished product, as reviewers slammed it for falling way short of expectations. Humane promised major updates to improve the device, but the damage was done by then, and the writing was on the wall for its debut device.

HP is acquiring Humane AI for $116 million, discontinuing AI Pin

HP plans to use Humane's technology to build "experience-led" products through its new innovation lab, HP IQ. Do you remember the Humane AI Pin which grabbed a lot of attention at the MWC last year. The Pin was touted to be among the best inventions of the year but later faced criticism for the shortcomings. In the latest update, HP has acquired the AI startup confirming that it will be taking its software platform, intellectual property, patents, and talent. However, the Humane AI Pin will be discontinued. Starting February 28, the company will stop its operation and will no longer connect to the servers. It means that it will not include calling, messaging, AI queries or cloud access. The company is even asking the users to download the pictures, videos and notes stored on their Pins before they are permanently deleted at the shutdown. However, offline features like battery level will work but no feature that will require cloud connectivity will not function. Speaking of the refunds, the company has stated that the AI Pins which were purchased within the 90-day return window from their original shipment date, as per the FAQ about the takeover. Refunds "must be submitted by February 27th, 2025." If you have paid for a Humane subscription past February 28th, Humane says that "we will process a prorated refund." Also read: Chandigarh man loses Rs 9 lakh in credit card scam: Here's what happened Humane was established in 2019 by Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno. However, the device experienced significant issues, including overheating and inaccurate AI responses, resulting in only 10,000 orders rather than the expected 100,000. Following negative reviews, Humane began talks with HP about a possible sale for more than $1 billion. HP is now planning to expand its product ecosystem and establish HP IQ, an innovation lab. Chaudhri and Bongiorno will join HP, which plans to use Humane's technology to create more "experience-led" products.

AI Startup Humane to Wind Down Wearable Pin Business

Artificial intelligence startup Humane is shutting down its wearable pin business and selling its assets to personal computer maker HP Inc for $116 million after getting disappointing reviews and lack of orders for the product. The deal gives HP access to the startup's Cosmos operating system, technical talent and intellectual property, helping beef up the personal computer maker's AI portfolio amid a weak recovery in its core market. The acquired talent will form HP's new AI innovation lab focused on integrating Humane's machine learning capabilities, HP said in a release on Tuesday. The startup, founded by ex-Apple veterans, was one of many that looked to make a splash in the AI boom with its wearable AI pin that provided voice assistance to its users.

At Just $699, The Ai Pin Was Doomed - Why Pay $100 Less Than An iPhone 16 For A Gadget That Charges You To Work?

While we are part of an AI revolution right now where companies are actively bringing out innovative products that would leave an impact and mark their place in the industry, it seems that Humane is heading in a different direction. The company behind the Ai Pin is now discontinuing the device as HP is acquiring it for $116 million. Those who have gotten their hands on the AI-powered device meant to be an alternative to smartphones are left feeling sheer disappointment on the online functionality of the device ceasing on February 28, 2025. What could be a promising product now seems like it never stood a chance in the first place, and customers express their dismay over it and feel rugged. Tech giants are working arduously to bring more innovation and push the technology further. This is the same ambitious vision Humane, a startup founded by an ex-Apple veteran, had when it launched its Ai Pin, which was priced at $699 in November 2023 and came with a $24 monthly subscription. What was meant to be a futuristic alternative to smartphones turned out to be a disaster with the major problems it faced, ultimately leading to the company shutting down the Ai Pin. This situation has left many users feeling rugged for investing a huge amount in a standalone AI device to find out now that the device is useless and obsolete without cloud support. While there is a refund option available, it is only limited to those who have made the purchases within the 90-day return window, leaving those who got the device early on feeling even more frustrated for the lack of compensation. Although @nearcyan on X shared about the offline features still being accessible, such as battery level, the lack of AI responses, voice interaction, and other core functions makes the device no longer helpful. Even before Humane decided to sell its assets to HP for $116 million and discontinue the Ai Pin, the AI-powered device was doomed to fail due to primarily the unrealistic goal of replacing smartphones as the technology has not advanced enough for people to leave their phones just yet. Secondly, the device was overpriced, sitting at $699 for an AI device when you can get the iPhone 16 by adding $100 more truly does not make sense, especially with the performance issues it has, such as lagging, overheating, and weak battery life. While the high price of the device had already deterred many of the potential buyers, those who did invest in the Ai Pin feel ripped and view their purchase as a failed investment. What was meant to be a revolutionary AI wearable is now soon going to be shut down, and the ambitious vision would be left crumbled.

Humane, The Company Behind Ai Pin, Is Being Acquired By HP For $116 Million, Which Will Include 300 Patents And Several Former Employees

The Ai Pin was a product that established itself to be a part of a category that was overhyped and underdelivered, with Humane forced to pay a hefty price as its $699 pocketable device arrived 'dead on arrival,' leaving the company open to acquisition offers. That day has finally arrived, with HP reportedly purchasing the important assets, which include around 300 patents and a majority of Humane's employees. As for the Ai Pin, the deal ensured that the gadget would not have a future any longer. The company that was co-founded by ex-Apple employees was previously looking to be acquired between $750 million and $1 billion, but it was clear that no firm, big or small, was going to pour a ludicrous sum taking over something that delivered a 'dead weight' product. According to Bloomberg, HP has finalized the deal and will acquire Humane for $116 million. Unfortunately, the deal does not include keeping the Ai Pin future alive, meaning that those who actually purchased it will eventually find out that the device will stop working. From February 28, the Ai Pin will no longer be connected to Humane's servers, and to keep users prepared for that faithful day, the company has put out a message below that was taken from a support document to connect the gadget over Wi-Fi to download any important data. "Data Access: We strongly encourage you to sync your Ai Pin over Wi-Fi and download any stored pictures, videos, and notes from. Center before February 28, 2025. If you do not do this, your data will be lost upon deletion on February 28, 2025 at 12pm PST." As for the founders Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno, they will have employment as part of HP's deal as they will create a new division focused on adding AI to the company's PCs, printers and other devices. As you would have guessed, the new division will house several members of Humane. We can imagine that buyers of the Ai Pin will be livid to learn of this development, but there is some respite for them, if they satisfy some conditions. Customers opting for a refund will have their request entertained if they purchased the Ai Pin within the original 90-day return window. Those who paid for subscriptions will also receive a refund commensurate with the time utilized by the device.

It's time to admit the 'AI gadget' era was a flop

From the Humane Pin to Rabbit R1, these devices didn't live up to their promises. For a moment back there it looked like the smartphone might be in trouble. Weird and (on paper) wonderful gadgets were popping up left, right and centre, claiming to offer a transformative experience by harnessing the power of AI. The splashiest examples had to be the Rabbit R1 and Humane AI Pin. But with the untimely and ugly death of the latter this week, it's time to call the AI gadget era what it was: an almighty flop. Humane has announced that is is shutting down after being acquired by HP, and that its AI Pin device will stop connecting to its servers. In other words, the Pin is getting bricked. Oh, and don't expect a refund if you bought it more than 90 days ago. In an 'Important Announcement' on its website, Humane announces it is "winding down the consumer Ai Pin as [its] business priorities have shifted. Your Ai Pin will continue to function normally until 12pm PST on February 28, 2025. After this date, it will no longer connect to Humane's servers, and .Center access will be fully retired." Early last year, we observed that a new genre of tech was emerging that was seemingly trying to be anything but a smartphones. We counted Apple's Vision Pro among them, but the most notable new contenders were the 'AI gadgets' - the Rabbit R1 and Humane Pin. But after going hands-on with the Rabbit device, it was clear this buggy gadget was no iPhone killer. But while the Rabbit R1 might not have blown us away from a performance standpoint, the story of the Humane Pin is altogether more disastrous. The bricking of the device and lack of refund has left an incredibly sour taste for early adopters. "Feels like we've been duped," one Redditor laments, while another adds, "It's truly a middle finger. Especially because there is no way around it due to the server reliance." Others, however, are a little less surprised. "How anyone thought this would ever take off is beyond me. A niche device, poorly specced, to 'solve' a problem almost all of us already carry a solution for in our pockets. There's a reason we don't carry separate music players around with us anymore. It's the same reason this was doomed from inception." With the demise of the AI Pin, it seems clear that the opportunistic rise of AI related hardware was indeed a flop. In fact, that pretty much became clear when Apple announced Apple Intelligence. Companies like Humane and Rabbit might have scrambled to create dedicated hardware to facilitate the software aspect of AI, but it was clear to many that what they offered was essentially an app. Sure, Apple Intelligence hasn't has the most auspicious start either, but at least it isn't asking us to carry another gadget in our pockets.

In an Email to Customers, Humane Delivered a Brutal Lesson in Failure

On Tuesday, Humane -- the company famous for its ambitious AI Pin -- sent an email to customers announcing it was "winding down the consumer Ai Pin as our business priorities have shifted." To be clear, it's not so much a wind down as an abrupt halt. The company is no longer offering the Ai Pin for sale, and all existing devices will -- for all intents and purposes -- stop working on February 28. Also, to be clear, it isn't so much that its "business priorities have shifted," as much as it is selling off the parts that have some value to HP and shutting down the rest. After February 28, Ai Pins will "no longer connect to Humane's servers, and .Center access will be fully retired." Not only that, but the Pins will no longer be able to make phone calls, send messages, access the cloud, or make AI queries. They will become $700 bricks. Well, I guess they are more like very small paperweights, but you get the point. This is not how a company should treat its customers, even when it fails. Especially when the reason it failed is because it made a very big promise it could not keep.

HP to build future products atop grave of flopped 'AI pin'

Tech and people behind IoT brooch that reviewers instantly hated will one day pep up printers The "AI Pin" produced by company called Humane was a leading tender for 2024's biggest consumer tech flop, but that hasn't stopped HP acquiring some of the code and people behind the device and using it as the basis for a new innovation team that will infuse its printers and conference room kit with AI. The Pin is a small device that many would deem a "brooch". Whatever you call it, the machine is billed as "your intelligent, voice-powered wearable companion -- keeping you connected and in the moment with just a touch." As its name implies, the AI Pin is designed to be pinned to your clothes. The gadget includes a camera so it can do things like scan a document and read a translation through its speaker. It also includes "laser ink", a projector capable of beaming images and text. Humane suggested you'd use it to beam info onto your hand, for those moments when the Pin's speakers weren't the right way to consume data. Humane's founders, and investors including Salesforce's Marc Benioff and OpenAI's Sam Altman, hoped the device would "disrupt" the smartphone market. It didn't. Reviewers who got their hands on the device quickly gave it a hard no, citing problems with overheating, stability, and usability. Later assessments made after a software update were kinder, but by the time such reviews appeared The New York Times reported that Humane knew the product had substantial problems before launch. Issues included the possibility a battery in the device's charger accessory could catch fire, which led to an October 2024 recall notice that revealed just 10,500 of the devices were affected. The abovementioned issues quickly led to speculation Humane might try to sell its IP - the New York Times in June named HP as one suitor. That prediction came true on Tuesday when HP announced it had reached "a definitive agreement to acquire key AI capabilities from Humane, including their AI-powered platform Cosmos, highly skilled technical talent, and intellectual property with more than 300 patents and patent applications." Doing so will apparently advance "HP's transformation into a more experience-led company." Tuan Tran, President of Technology and Innovation at HP, said the acquisition "will help us create an intelligent ecosystem across all HP devices from AI PCs to smart printers and connected conference rooms. This will unlock new levels of functionality for our customers and deliver on the promises of AI." That stuff will emerge from "HP IQ", described a "new AI innovation lab focused on building an intelligent ecosystem across HP's products and services for the future of work." Humane staff will work in the lab. All that for just $116 million, the sum HP will pay to acquire chunks of Humane. We're guessing the lab will figure out how to use the Cosmos OS that powered the AI Pin across HP's product range. The deal also means the AI Pin will be disabled and dumped. A Humane support document reveals the device is not longer on sale, and that as of February 28th customer data will be deleted and the servers that power many of its features won't be reachable. After that date, owners have been advised "Your Ai Pin features will no longer include calling, messaging, Ai queries/responses, or cloud access." Did we mention the Pin cost $699? And that a Humane FAQ states that only those who bought their devices after November 15th are eligible for a refund? Maybe remember that when HP printers start talking to you once they include Humane's tech. ®

Inside the Humane acquisition: HP offers big raises to some, others immediately laid off | TechCrunch

Humane, formerly one of Silicon Valley's buzziest AI hardware startups, announced on Tuesday it was being partially acquired by HP for $116 million, less than half of the $240 million the startup raised in venture capital funding. Tuesday may not have been a great day for some Humane investors, but it was especially chaotic for its nearly 200 employees, according to internal documents seen by TechCrunch and two sources who requested anonymity to discuss private matters. Hours after the acquisition was announced, several Humane employees received job offers with pay increases of well over 30%, plus HP stock and a bonus plan, the sources revealed. Multiple employees who received offers worked on the company's core software, though sources also indicated that not all of the people who worked on software got job offers. Meanwhile, other Humane employees - especially those who worked closer to the AI Pin devices, including in quality assurance, automation, and hardware - were notified they were out of a job on Tuesday night, the sources said. These job offers highlight HP's interest in obtaining Humane's pool of AI-focused software engineers as part of the acquisition. Engineers that can build around AI systems are some of the hottest commodities in Silicon Valley today. While Humane's team wasn't training AI foundation models from scratch - such as engineers at OpenAI, Google, and other AI labs - such employees are still highly sought after. This makes it difficult even for giant legacy players, such as HP, to hire. The companies announced on Tuesday that HP IQ will not only be home to Humane's cofounders, Imran Chaudhri and CEO Bethany Bongiorno, but also the startup's AI operating system, CosmOS. The new unit will focus on integrating artificial intelligence into HP's personal computers, printers, and connected conference rooms. One source said that these job offers, with their higher salaries, were exciting for many who were offered them. HP's acquisition wasn't exactly a surprise to Humane employees. The New York Times reported in June that Humane wanted to sell itself to HP for more than $1 billion, though the final price ended up being far less. Humane's leadership also told some employees to prepare for "big news" to come in late January, one person said. But the news didn't come until the second half of February. When it did, Humane's employees weren't given much of a heads up that a final agreement had been struck, or that the AI Pin business would be wound down. Around noon pacific on Tuesday, Humane's chief of staff, Andie Adragna, sent employees a Google Meet invite to an impromptu, company-wide meeting to occur in an hour, according to internal correspondence seen by TechCrunch. The meeting took place at the company's San Francisco office and was livestreamed for remote employees. At the meeting, Bongiorno told employees about the acquisition offer just moments before Humane and HP's press release went live, a source described. During another company-wide meeting later that day, Bongiorno clarified that some employees would get job offers to work at HP IQ, and others would not. Multiple Humane employees were then laid off via email on Tuesday, and had their access to company systems cut off immediately, another source said. The total number of Humane employees affected by the layoffs is unclear. HP and Humane did not respond to TechCrunch's request for comment. Humane's business showed signs of floundering for a while. The AI Pin was immediately met with negative reviews from early testers - a morale killer for the company's employees. Later, the product's charging case was briefly deemed a fire hazard. To make matters worse, the company's Head of Product Engineering abandoned the startup in July to start his own company with some other Humane execs. Then things got really bad. Returns for the AI Pin outpaced its sales at one point, which may have prompted the company to drop the price of its AI Pins from $699 to $499. After the acquisition was announced, Humane told customers they should "recycle" their $499 AI Pins, which the startup says will mostly stop working in less than two weeks. That said, some employees view Humane as a moderate success story for a startup. Most startups do not sell thousands of devices, gain national attention, and get acquired for millions. Startup employees join these companies understanding the risk that their company will likely fail, but try anyways. In Humane's case, at least some portion of the staff is being offered a well-paying job at HP, and will get to continue some projects they started at Humane. Interestingly, the AI Pin, with its mission to replace a smartphone, has died right as other AI wearables seem to be picking up steam. Meta's Ray Ban AI smart glasses continue to sell well, and the company is reportedly readying new versions for release later this year. Rabbit's R1 landed in Best Buy stores this week, opening the door to more mainstream electronics consumers. And we're still awaiting the release of Friend, another AI startup creating a wearable device to address loneliness. Perhaps most ironically, Apple released a $599 version of iPhone this week that's packed with AI features, mimicking features of the devices that hoped to replace phones. The AI Pin was almost definitely ahead of its time - the question now is, how early?

Humane's AI Pin Failed Because It Ignored What Was Already In Our Pockets

Nearly 20 years writing about tech, and over a decade reviewing wearable tech, VR, and AR products and apps About a year ago, I reviewed a weird little aspirational Star Trek-like mini communicator badge I wore on my clothing. The Humane AI Pin promised to be the future of devices beyond the phone: something that made living in the world more immediate, to remove us from screens, to make our lives easier through AI. The Humane AI pin is now a paperweight, sold for IP to HP. The hardware will stop working at the end of the month after Humane's services are cut off. All data will be delated from Humane's servers, too. The AI Pin was an utter failure. It didn't work well, either. It overheated. It had an extremely awkward, futuristic-yet-gimmicky interface, relying on hand gestures made while simultaneously looking at the pin's "display" as a projected image on your open hand. And its AI wasn't good. But the real reason, in my opinion, that the Humane AI Pin really failed was its ignorance of how ubiquitous phones are. It's a lesson other AI devices, and VR/AR wearables, should pay attention to. Meta's Ray-Bans, another piece of wearable AI tech, have done pretty well - according to Meta, two million pairs have been sold so far. But as someone who's worn them, I could tell you the big reasons for this. First, Meta's glasses are decent-looking glasses made by a big brand. Second, they work with phones, and act as phone accessories (headphones, wearable cameras). And third, they make the AI a clever bonus feature, not the main event. AI is at best a sometimes-helpful thing, at worst a distracting, broken intruder, and often it's more like a curious gimmick. Meta's treating AI like an experimental playground, and the Ray-Bans make its use optional. The Humane AI Pin, meanwhile, made AI its only true feature beyond being a mediocre camera and Tidal music player. It looked weird on anyone wearing it, and served no other purpose. And, most importantly, it had absolutely no connection or relationship to the phone in my pocket. According to Humane's founders, this was the future beyond the phone. I've heard this argument before: notably, in VR and AR headsets. The Meta Quest, the Apple Vision Pro: these are the future of computing, we've been told. There's one problem there: I'm never getting rid of my phone. And neither is anyone else. Phones do too much. They're too integral: to safety, to security, to account management, to music, to being a camera or a personal assistant. To get rid of a phone means replacing it with something that does at least as good a job, or convincing us we can live without the phone's functions. Neither are true for me. And so AI gadgets or standalone VR headsets will never be more than "extra devices." Humane's AI Pin was not only crazy expensive ($700), but it required its own cellular service and $25 a month plan to function. Humane stubbornly refused any phone app, or any way for the pin to pair with Bluetooth and act as a connected camera and microphone/speaker for phones, or run off cellular from your existing phone. That decision, looking back, was even dumber than it seemed in 2024. The Humane AI Pin is dead now, its fanciful ideas eaten up by HP - a graveyard for many old, failed tech things. But its lessons remain. When I see how Apple has positioned the Vision Pro stubbornly away from iPhones, I only think about a future headset small enough to work with your phone in tandem. When I see Meta's Quest headsets in relation to Meta's smart glasses, I see a lineup of great VR game consoles, but they're still destined to remain too separated from the rest of our computing lives. Meanwhile, Meta's glasses, while not doing very much yet, at least function like accessories to our already-lived lives, rather than trying to force us down another product path. Tread carefully, new tech. Phones are too good to be replaced anytime soon. Google's Android XR promises of working with Android phones and Google's Play app store suggest that maybe, this time, Google is recognizing that for its return to new VR and AR gadgets, you can't run away from phones. You have to find a way to embrace them. I see phones evolving into more connected versions of themselves with more immersive and optional personal accessories, powering glasses and wearables in new ways. But I can't see anything swooping in to fully replace the phone anytime soon. Anything that tries to make that claim right now is probably destined to die, like the unlamented Humane pin.

HP to Acquire Parts AI Pin Startup Humane for $116 Million

The Humane Ai Pin was received poorly and suffered from several glitches HP will acquire assets from Humane, the maker of the wearable Ai Pin introduced in late 2023, for $116 million (roughly Rs. 1,007 crore). The deal will include the majority of Humane's employees in addition to its software platform and intellectual property, the company said Tuesday. It will not include Humane's Ai Pin device business, which will be wound down, an HP spokesperson said. Humane's team, including founders Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno, will form a new division at HP to help integrate artificial intelligence into the company's personal computers, printers and connected conference rooms, said Tuan Tran, who leads HP's AI initiatives. Chaudhri and Bongiorno were design and software engineers at Apple Inc. before founding the startup. In April 2024, Humane launched a much-hyped wearable device meant to allow users to access AI models, calls and texts via voice or gesture. The startup pitched the Ai Pin as an eventual smartphone replacement. But the device met a cascade of negative reviews, reports of glitches and a "quality issue" that led to a risk of fire. The San Francisco-based startup had raised over $230 million and counted backers such as Salesforce Inc. Chief Executive Officer Marc Benioff. Humane, in a note to customers, said it had stopped selling the Ai Pin and existing devices would no longer connect to the company's servers after noon San Francisco time Feb. 28. "We strongly encourage you to sync your Ai Pin over Wi-Fi and download any stored pictures, videos and notes" before the deadline, or the data will be lost, Humane said in the statement. Humane had been looking for a buyer for the business as early as May 2024, when it sought a price of $750 million to $1 billion. Tran said he was particularly impressed with aspects of Humane's design, such as the ability to orchestrate AI models running both on-device and in the cloud. The deal is expected to close at the end of the month, HP said. A few months ago, Humane backed away from its hardware focus, instead rebranding around what it called Cosmos, an AI operating system for a slew of devices in the home and on-the-go. The software, the company said, had a new type of architecture built around AI agents. HP could use this underlying technology to help power its own future devices. HP has touted cost, security and speed as benefits of delivering some generative AI features locally, rather than through the cloud. Last year it launched a line of computers with semiconductors optimized for on-device AI. "There will be a time and place for pure AI devices," Tran said. "But there is going to be AI in all our devices -- that's how we can help our business customers be more productive."

The Humane AI Pin was always destined to fail, here's why

Table of Contents Table of Contents Problems from the start A predestined failure thanks to a key error Why the Humane AI Pin was exciting and interesting Apple in pedigree, but not in nature Battling the giants without a giant budget CES 2024 saw a wave of innovations in the AI space, and one of the most hyped was the Humane AI Pin which launched to much aplomb thanks to the founders' previous work at Apple. Except, it quickly became clear that -- despite raising hundreds of millions of dollars -- the company had a battle to persuade people that this was the future. I saw the Humane AI Pin at CES last year and at first, I was excited about a dedicated AI device. However, a high price tag, a required monthly subscription, and a lack of clear purpose made it Recommended Videos Yet, the writing was on the wall last year, and today it's official: the company has today announced that it is killing the AI Pin. As part of an acquisition of the Humane assets by HP for $116 million -- far less than the $230 million the company raised -- the AI Pin is being discontinued and all servers will stop working next week. Yes, your very expensive standalone AI gadget just became a paperweight. Here's why the Humane AI Pin was destined to fail, and where I think the company completely missed the trick. Problems from the start To understand the promise of the AI Pin, you need to first understand how the company positioned it. It was billed as a wearable computer that promised to free you from your smartphone, but at $699 upfront and a $24 per month subscription, it needed to offer a lot of features. All the initial reviews summarized it correctly: it just didn't work. Imagine the smarts of your phone built into a small device without a screen, but a small projector that displays the information in the palm of your hand. When you need to input text, dial a number to make a call, calculate a tip, or do anything else, just ask the assistant on the AI Pin. These were lofty goals, and the company ultimately failed to even come close. Where things got even murkier was that if you bought the AI Pin, the mandatory subscription wasn't linked to your existing number in any way. There was also no way to transfer that subscription or sell the product to someone else, so you had to believe in the phone-less future, or at least believe the company's marketing that this product was the future. It turns out that few people want this future. A predestined failure thanks to a key error The answer is fairly obvious, and one that I saw coming a year ago. During my nearly 20-year career in technology, I spent many years working directly with customers, and while the Humane AI Pin seemed like a cool product, it tried to change one heavily ingrained user behavior: the use of a phone screen. The company predicted 100,000 sales in year one but achieved just 10% of this, and many of these were likely reviewers who wanted to understand the hype. On many occasions last year, I was one of these, but once the first reviews came out, it was clear that this product was a bust. Considering that the Rabbit R1 standalone AI device launched at just $199 just weeks after the Humane AI Pin, it's no surprise that the company has killed the product, it's just a surprise that it took this long. As we found in our Rabbit R1 review, this product also isn't the answer, but it works more as a companion for your phone than trying to replace it, which is the fundamental error that Humane made with its first product. Why the Humane AI Pin was exciting and interesting The reason that the AI Pin was interesting to me is fairly simple: we've all had numerous occasions where it's inconvenient to pull out your phone to calculate something, jot down a note, or pull up navigation directions. Coupled with bigger displays that also drain the battery life of your phone, there is a real problem that needs to be solved. Unfortunately, the Humane AI Pin is not the answer. Rather than approach it like Rabbit and build a companion for your phone -- which likely would not have enabled them to raise anywhere near as much money -- the company decided that no one needs a phone. Yet, the problem still exists. The answer seems fairly straightforward, and it's not one that most third-party companies can build. Instead, it's down to companies like Google, Samsung, and Apple to build more useful AI features into your phone. We're already seeing this with Google Gemini, Galaxy AI, and Apple Intelligence, but they still have a long way to go to solve the use cases for a product like the AI Pin. Apple in pedigree, but not in nature Humane was created by two ex-Apple engineers -- Imarin Chaudri and Bethany Bongiorno -- who both have undoubted pedigree in the technology space. While this pedigree helped the company raise $230 million in funding from some of the biggest companies in technology, it didn't help them kickstart a visionary shift in the industry. Apple has a pedigree for shifting consumer behaviors, with products like the iPod, iPhone, and Apple Watch inspiring, or revolutionizing entire industries. This was down to more than just the product, with the company laser-focused on precision marketing that made its products desirable. In its online presence, Humane execs like Bethany were very vocal about extolling the benefits of the Humane AI Pin, and there's no doubt that the company had some great feedback from actual users. However, these would have been outweighed by the sheer amount of negative feedback. As Bethany tweeted: the company had a big (and nearly impossible) goal, which was made even harder as its biggest competition -- the phone makers themselves -- kickstarted the current trend of AI in smartphones. Battling the giants without a giant budget Ask any founder if raising $230 million in your first four rounds of funding is worthy and many will probably gladly accept it. Then ask the same people if they think it's enough to compete in the hottest space against companies like Apple, Google, or Samsung, and the answer will be very different. Ultimately, the Humane AI Pin was destined to fail as it tried to battle the biggest companies in the world with a fraction of the budget. To its credit, Humane has rolled out many new features over the past year, but it did so slower than the very phones it was trying to replace. Humane tried to change the world with its first product but lacked the foresight to fit in the market first. Had it done so, the company may have found that it had grossly overestimated the demand for this product, and maybe, just maybe, it would be different today. Instead, its assets are now owned by HP; what's the betting that Humane is the next Palm?

HP to acquire assets from 'Ai Pin' maker Humane in $116M deal - SiliconANGLE

HP Inc. today announced that it had entered a definitive agreement to acquire assets from Humane Inc., the maker of an artificial intelligence-powered smart pin, for $116 million. Humane first burst onto the AI scene in November 2023 with the launch of a device known as the "Ai Pin" that sold for $699. The device (pictured), which was worn by users similar to a brooch, was pitched as a smartphone substitute where the user could interact with the device using voice commands. Instead of a screen, the Ai Pin featured a miniature laser projector that can display information such as the time on a user's hand. If the idea sounds abstract, it's because it was - there's nothing the device could do that most smartphones couldn't - even the projection feature can be found in some Chinese Android smartphones. Thrown into the mix is that along with the $699 purchase price, the device also required a $24 per month subscription. The reviews for the Ai Pin were not good, with it being described as clunky, limited and not even close. With its only product and core offering not being well received, Humane was first reported to be looking for a buyer in May 2024. Reports at the time said it was chasing a valuation of up to $1 billion. Fast-forward to February 2025 and HP is now acquiring key AI capabilities from Humane, including their AI-powered platform Cosmos, highly skilled technical talent and intellectual property with more than 300 patents and patent applications. The acquisition is being pitched as helping advance HP's transformation into a more experience-led company. Notably, HP is not acquiring the Ai Pin, but some of the technology used to power it. "This investment will rapidly accelerate our ability to develop a new generation of devices that seamlessly orchestrate AI requests both locally and in the cloud," said Tuan Tran, president of Technology and Innovation at HP, in a statement. "Humane's AI platform Cosmos, backed by an incredible group of engineers, will help us create an intelligent ecosystem across all HP devices, from AI PCs to smart printers and connected conference rooms. This will unlock new levels of functionality for our customers and deliver on the promises of AI." Under the deal, a group of Humane engineers, architects and product innovators is joining HP's Technology and Innovation organization. The incoming Humane employees will form a new group within HP called HP IQ, an AI innovation lab focused on building an intelligent ecosystem across HP's products and services for the future of work. It's not clear what parts of Humane are left or whether the company will continue to trade now that it has sold off its core technology. However, the days of the Ai Pin are numbered, with the company saying that the devices will lose all access to Humane's servers and other features such as calling, messaging and AI queries from Feb. 28. Coming into the technology and talent acquisition, Humane had raised $230 million in venture capital funding over three rounds. Investors in the company included Kindred Ventures, LG Technology Ventures, Socium Ventures, Qualcomm Ventures, Valia, Forerunner Ventures, Tiger Global Management, Hico Capital, Microsoft Corp., Volvo Cars AB, Top Tier Capital Partners and Hudson Bay Capital LP.

AI Pin maker Humane is shutting down

Driving the news; HP said in a statement it is buying Humane's AI-powered platform Cosmos as well as a portfolio of intellectual property, including more than 300 patents and patent applications. Zoom in: Humane said in an FAQ that it is shutting down most services for the AI Pin on Feb. 28, including calling, messaging, AI queries and cloud access. What they're saying: "This investment will rapidly accelerate our ability to develop a new generation of devices that seamlessly orchestrate AI requests both locally and in the cloud," Tuan Tran, HP president of technology and innovation, said in a statement.