The Humane AI Pin’s journey is coming to an abrupt end. The wearable AI assistant, once hailed as a revolutionary smartphone alternative, will officially cease functioning next week.
💡 HP Acquires Humane’s Key Assets
Humane, the startup behind the AI Pin, has confirmed that HP will acquire several of its assets for $116 million. This deal includes over 300 patents, the company’s Cosmos operating system, and even key personnel, including founders Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno.
In late 2024, Humane had considered licensing its Cosmos AI platform to third parties, aiming to integrate the AI assistant into products like cars. However, those plans never materialized, and now HP intends to repurpose the technology for its own ecosystem.
⚠️ AI Pin Users: Your Device Will Stop Working
For those who purchased a Humane AI Pin, there’s bad news: the device will become completely non-functional after noon Pacific on February 28. While some rudimentary features, such as checking battery life, may still work, the core AI assistant and other functionalities will be disabled.
If you purchased the device after November 15, 2024, you are eligible for a refund. Humane encourages users to download and back up any data before the shutdown date, as all stored information will be deleted.
🔍 Why Did the Humane AI Pin Fail?
Back in 2023, Humane was considered one of Silicon Valley’s most promising startups. The AI Pin, an ambitious wearable featuring a ChatGPT-powered assistant and a laser-projected display, was marketed as a potential smartphone replacement.
However, once reviewers got their hands on it in 2024, the flaws became apparent. The device suffered from overheating issues, frequent AI hallucinations, a lack of useful features, and an impractical projector. As a result, adoption was slow, and Humane struggled to maintain momentum.
🚀 What’s Next for HP?
HP has no plans to continue selling the AI Pin hardware. Instead, the company will focus on integrating Humane’s Cosmos AI into its existing product lineup, aiming to enhance functionality across its devices.
The acquired Humane engineers will form a new division within HP called HP IQ, which will explore AI-driven innovations. This could mean smarter AI-powered features in HP’s future products—perhaps even a printer that doesn’t drive its users crazy!
🌍 Broader AI Industry Impact
The failure of the Humane AI Pin serves as a cautionary tale for AI startups. As companies continue to push AI integration into consumer tech, lessons from Humane’s missteps will shape future innovations.
For a broader look at AI-powered devices and their evolving role in the tech industry, check out how Together AI is shaping the future of AI cloud innovation.
What are your thoughts on the Humane AI Pin’s downfall? Did you ever consider buying one? Let us know in the comments below!
