Humane Inc. Explained

Humane Inc.
Type:Private
Fate:Acquired by HP
Successor:HP IQ
Hq Location:San Francisco, California, US
Products:AI Pin (discontinued)
Num Employees:200 (2023)[1]
Website: (now redirects to)

Humane Inc. (stylized as hu.ma.ne[2]) was an American consumer electronics company founded in 2018 by Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno.[3] [4] The company designed and developed the AI Pin, a wearable voice-operated virtual assistant device, which started shipping in April 2024 but received poor reviews.[5]

History

Humane was founded by Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno[6] in 2018; the couple previously worked at Apple Inc. The startup emerged from stealth mode in 2021.[7] [8] By November 2023, the company had raised $230million,[9] with notable investors such as Marc Benioff, Sam Altman, Tiger Global, Solstice, SoftBank, Qualcomm, Microsoft, LG, Volvo, and Salesforce. Microsoft and OpenAI also announced partnerships with Humane.[10] Some 200 people were hired to work for the company, with 40% of them having spent time working at Apple Inc.[11] The company stated that it has raised $100million in both of its Series B and C rounds.[12] [13]

In January 2024, the company laid off 4% of its staff (10 employees).[14] On May22, 2024, Bloomberg reported news that Humane was seeking a buyer for its business, initially considering offers in the $750 million to $1billion range.[15] The New York Times reported that Humane had been in talks with HP. In February 2025, it was announced that HP would acquire most of Humane Inc. for $116 million. The deal includes the majority of Humane's employees, software platform, and intellectual property, including the AI Pin's CosmOS operating system and over 300 patents and patent applications,[16] but excludes the AI Pin device business itself, which will be discontinued. Humane’s team, including founders Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno, will join HP to help integrate AI into HP’s products on the newly formed HP IQ team.[17] [18]

Design

The AI Pin is a wearable device consisting of two separate parts—the front processing units and the rear battery. These parts are meant to be attached magnetically, sandwiching the user's clothing at chest level.[19] It is a voice-activated AI assistant and cellular phone, equipped with a camera, speaker, motion sensors, and green monochrome 720p "Laser Ink" projector screen that motion detects the user's hand to project onto, indicated by a green light.[20] The user mostly interacts with the device through a touchpad across most of its face and hand gestures in the air while the projection screen is active; the touchpad has to be tapped for it to listen for voice prompts.[21] The AI and cloud storage features require a $24 monthly subscription.[22] The device's only supported music streaming service is Tidal. Its operating system, CosmOS, is a custom Android distribution.[23] The goal of the Pin's design was to "make [the user] spend less time on [their] phone."

Chaudhri revealed the device and demonstrated its features during a TED Talk in May 2023,[24] [25] and it was later showcased at Paris Fashion Week in September.[26] Humane announced the device's name in July 2023.[27] [28] It was formally announced on November9, 2023, and sales started one week later at a price of $699.[29] The AI Pin was featured by Time in its Best 200 Inventions of 2023, which was published before the product was released and without the magazine being provided a review unit for testing.[30] Times co-chairs, Marc and Lynne Benioff, are investors in Humane.[31]

The device began shipping in April 2024. Despite concerns raised by employees, Humane never hired a head of marketing. The company had hoped for 100,000 sales by the end of the year, but until August only shipped 10,000 units.[32] It was reported that between May and August, more Ai Pins were returned than purchased.[33] On October 23, 2024, Humane reduced the price of the AI Pin to $499 (excluding any charging case or spare battery).[34] On October 31, 2024, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled Humane's Charge Case Accessory due to a potential fire hazard posed by its lithium polymer battery.[35]

According to news reports, employees had raised concerns about the viability and functionality of the device during the development phase, but these concerns were dismissed. The New York Times report that included interviews of 23 current and former employees, advisers, and investors pointed to Humane founders overlooking criticisms. At least one senior software engineer was fired after asking if the device would be ready for launch in time, and the firing was attributed to a violation of company policy "by talking negatively about Humane". Chaudhri and Bongiorno reportedly "preferred positivity over criticism", leading some employees to leave the company out of frustration that their feedback was not being heard.[36]

In February 2025, Humane announced it had stopped selling the AI Pin and existing devices would no longer connect to the company’s servers after 12:00 AM San Francisco time on February 28.[37] Following this, the device became virtually unusable and all consumer data on the company's servers was deleted.[38] [39] Humane offered a refund for the products that were shipped on or after November 15, 2024, and stated that they encourage users to recycle the AI Pin through an e-waste recycling program.[40]

Reception

The AI Pin has received generally negative reviews, praising its exterior design but criticizing its limited battery life and poor thermal control, and questioning the usefulness of many of its features.[41] [42] The New York Times reported that due to overheating problems, Humane executives would use ice packs to chill the AI Pin before previewing it to investors or partners.[29] The author of the newspaper's Tech Fix column stated that the device had "glaring flaws" and was often "wrong, unhelpful or inefficient".[43] The Verge wrote, "After many days of testing, the one and only thing I can truly rely on the AI Pin to do is tell me the time." Inverse stated that it "is slow to answer even basic questions." Fast Company noted that "Almost everything about the pin was a UX disaster for reviewers."[44]

Tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee titled his review video, one of the more famous reactions of a reviewer, "The Worst Product I've Ever Reviewed... For Now".[45] [46] The AI Pin has been compared to smartphones in terms of its usage in daily life. In response to the criticism, lead engineer Ken Kocienda said that he used the product "all the time" but did find it "frustrating sometimes" in the same way as a laptop or smartphone.[47] Due to the heating problem, Humane has also stated that the projector was intended to be used for no longer than nine minutes.

See also

References

  1. Web site: Wiggers . Kyle . March 8, 2023 . Humane, a secretive AI startup founded by ex-Apple employees, raises another $100M . TechCrunch . January 14, 2025 . July 29, 2025 . https://web.archive.org/web/20250729015000/https://techcrunch.com/2023/03/08/humane-the-secretive-ai-startup-founded-by-ex-apple-employees-raises-another-100m/ . live .
  2. Web site: Gallagher . William . 2023-03-08 . After 5 years of nothing, Humane 'startup' is now shifting to AI . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231109222549/https://appleinsider.com/articles/23/03/08/after-5-years-of-nothing-humane-startup-is-now-shifting-to-ai . November 9, 2023 . 2023-11-04 . AppleInsider . en.
  3. News: Griffith . Erin . Mickle . Tripp . Silicon Valley's Big, Bold Sci-Fi Bet on the Device That Comes After the Smartphone - Humane, a company started by two former Apple employees, says its new artificial intelligence pin can stop all the scrolling. Can it live up to the hype? . November 9, 2023 . . live . https://archive.today/20231110082350/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/09/technology/silicon-valleys-big-bold-sci-fi-bet-on-the-device-that-comes-after-the-smartphone.html . November 10, 2023 . November 10, 2023 .
  4. Web site: Porter . Jon . 2023-03-09 . Is buzzy startup Humane's big idea a wearable camera? . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240401171556/https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/9/23631911/humane-apple-startup-wearable-camera-artificial-intelligence-series-c-funding-round . April 1, 2024 . 2023-11-04 . The Verge . en.
  5. Web site: Heater . Brian . 2024-02-23 . Humane pushes Ai Pin ship date to mid-April . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240425054825/https://techcrunch.com/2024/02/23/humane-pushes-ai-pin-ship-date-to-mid-april/ . April 25, 2024 . 2024-04-13 . TechCrunch . en-US.
  6. Web site: Brown . Damon . 2019-12-20 . How to Know It's Time to Leave Your Prominent Job . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231104182517/https://www.inc.com/damon-brown/how-to-know-its-time-to-leave-your-prominent-job.html . November 4, 2023 . Inc. Magazine.
  7. Web site: Lunden . Ingrid . 2021-09-01 . Humane, a stealthy hardware and software startup co-founded by an ex-Apple designer and engineer, raises $100M . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240322222008/https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/01/humane-a-stealthy-hardware-and-software-startup-co-founded-by-an-ex-apple-designer-and-engineer-raises-100m/ . March 22, 2024 . 2023-11-04 . TechCrunch . en-US.
  8. Web site: This Week in AI: Open AI Disables Internet Browsing, Humane's first "Ai Pin" reveal, Japan's Education Ministry Releases AI Guidelines, and Wimbledon Picks up AI . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20240418005511/https://www.niural.com/blog/open-ai-disables-internet-browsing-humanes-first-ai-pin-reveal-japans-education-ministry-releases-ai-guidelines-and-wimbledon-picks-up-ai . April 18, 2024 . 2023-11-04 . niural.
  9. Dave . Paresh . November 9, 2023 . Humane's Ai Pin is a $700 Smartphone Alternative You Wear All Day . subscription . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240501140321/https://www.wired.com/story/humane-ai-pin-700-dollar-smartphone-alternative-wearable/ . May 1, 2024 . 10 November 2023 . Wired.
  10. News: Tilley . Aaron . 2023-03-08 . WSJ News Exclusive Startup by Ex-Apple Executives Raises $100 Million, Partners With OpenAI, Microsoft . subscription . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240421080955/https://www.wsj.com/articles/startup-by-ex-apple-executives-raises-100-million-partners-with-openai-microsoft-4eae0570 . April 21, 2024 . 2023-11-04 . Wall Street Journal . en-US . 0099-9660.
  11. News: Mathews . Jessica . March 9, 2023 . Founded by Apple vets, startup Humane has raised $241 million without a single customer . https://web.archive.org/web/20240415170953/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/founded-apple-vets-startup-humane-121051495.html . April 15, 2024 . 2025-02-25 . Yahoo Finance . en-US . live .
  12. Web site: March 8, 2023 . Humane raises $100m in Series C round as it builds device and services platform for the AI era. . 2025-02-25 . humane.com . en . March 19, 2025 . https://web.archive.org/web/20250319061231/https://humane.com/media/humane-raises-100m-in-series-c-round-as-it-builds-device-and-services-platform-for-the-ai-era . live .
  13. Web site: September 1, 2021 . Humane Raises $100m in Series B . 2025-02-25 . PRNewswire . en.
  14. Web site: Dent . Steve . 2024-01-10 . Humane lays off staff before its 'Ai Pin' begins shipping . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240204101259/https://www.engadget.com/humane-lays-off-staff-before-its-ai-pin-begins-shipping-103548514.html . February 4, 2024 . 2024-04-13 . Engadget . en-US.
  15. Web site: 2024-05-22 . Wearable AI Startup Humane Explores Potential Sale, Sources Say . 2024-05-23 . Bloomberg . August 20, 2025 . https://web.archive.org/web/20250820221227/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-22/wearable-ai-startup-humane-is-said-to-explore-potential-sale . live .
  16. Web site: Harding . Scharon . 2025-02-19 . "Truly a middle finger": Humane bricking $700 AI Pins with limited refunds . 2025-02-24 . Ars Technica . en-US.
  17. Web site: Peters . Jay . Humane is shutting down the AI Pin and selling its remnants to HP . The Verge . 18 February 2025 . 18 February 2025 . August 31, 2025 . https://web.archive.org/web/20250831103118/https://www.theverge.com/news/614883/humane-ai-hp-acquisition-pin-shutdown . live .
  18. Web site: Kuchler . Hannah . HP's $116 million deal for Humane includes IP but no Ai Pin device . Bloomberg . 18 February 2025 . 18 February 2025.
  19. Web site: McFarland . Alex . 2024-05-23 . What Went Wrong With the Humane AI Pin? . 2025-02-22 . Unite.AI . en-US.
  20. Web site: Siegler . M. G. . 2024-04-11 . "Most of the time, nothing happens." . 2025-02-23 . Spyglass . en . September 4, 2025 . https://web.archive.org/web/20250904002150/https://spyglass.org/humane-ai-pin-brutal-review/ . live .
  21. Web site: Amadeo . Ron . 2023-11-10 . The Humane AI Pin is a bizarre cross between Google Glass and a pager . 2024-08-08 . Ars Technica . en-us . April 12, 2025 . https://web.archive.org/web/20250412140243/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/11/humane-ai-pin-a-700-voice-command-box-definitely-wont-replace-your-phone/ . live .
  22. Web site: 2025-02-19 . Humane, Whose AI Pin Flopped, to Sell Assets to HP . 2025-02-22 . PYMNTS.com . en-US . March 27, 2025 . https://web.archive.org/web/20250327011247/https://www.pymnts.com/artificial-intelligence-2/2025/humane-whose-ai-pin-flopped-to-sell-assets-to-hp/ . live .
  23. Web site: Pierce . David . 2023-11-08 . Exclusive leak: all the details about Humane's AI Pin, which costs $699 and has OpenAI integration . 2025-02-22 . The Verge . en-US . August 2, 2025 . https://web.archive.org/web/20250802023027/https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/8/23953022/humane-ai-pin-price-specs-leak . live .
  24. Web site: Kastrenakes . Jacob . 2023-05-09 . Humane's new wearable AI demo is wild to watch — and we have lots of questions . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240417175329/https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/9/23716996/humane-wearable-ai-tech-demo-ted-video . April 17, 2024 . 2023-11-04 . The Verge . en.
  25. Web site: Fried . Ina . 2023-04-20 . Humane previews AI-powered wearable . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231205154755/https://www.axios.com/2023/04/21/humane-ai-powered-wearable . December 5, 2023 . Axios.
  26. News: Davis . Wes . 30 September 2023 . The Humane Ai Pin makes its debut on the runway at Paris Fashion Week . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240417172318/https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/30/23897065/humane-ai-pin-coperni-paris-fashion-week . April 17, 2024 . 10 November 2023 . The Verge . en.
  27. Web site: Orr . Andrew . 2023-07-03 . Humane announces its wearable phone will be named 'Humane AI Pin' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231104182521/https://appleinsider.com/articles/23/07/03/humane-announces-its-wearable-communicator-will-be-named-humane-ai-pin . November 4, 2023 . 2023-11-04 . AppleInsider . en.
  28. Web site: Heater . Brian . 2023-09-30 . Humane's 'Ai Pin' debuts on the Paris runway . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240425054828/https://techcrunch.com/2023/09/30/humanes-ai-pin-debuts-on-the-paris-runway/ . April 25, 2024 . 2023-11-04 . TechCrunch . en-US.
  29. News: Mickle . Tripp . Griffith . Erin . June 6, 2024 . 'This Is Going to Be Painful': How a Bold A.I. Device Flopped . registration . The New York Times.
  30. Dixit . Pranav . 2023-10-24 . Humane Ai Pin: The 200 Best Inventions of 2023 . 2023-11-04 . Time . Rethinking the Smartphone . en . September 2, 2025 . https://web.archive.org/web/20250902082545/https://time.com/collection/best-inventions-2023/6327143/humane-ai-pin/ . live .
  31. Web site: Gruber . John . 2024-04-15 . Nominee for Claim Chowder of the Year 2024: Time Magazine's Best Inventions of 2023 Award for Humane's AI Pin . 2026-01-05 . Daring Fireball . en.
  32. Web site: 2024-08-07 . People are returning Humane AI Pins faster than the company can sell them . 2024-08-08 . Engadget . en-US . July 12, 2025 . https://web.archive.org/web/20250712232105/https://www.engadget.com/ai/people-are-returning-humane-ai-pins-faster-than-the-company-can-sell-them-191523105.html . live .
  33. Web site: Robison . Kylie . 2024-08-07 . Humane's daily returns are outpacing sales . 2025-02-21 . The Verge . en-US.
  34. Web site: Linder . Brad . 2024-10-24 . Humane Ai Pin gets a $200 price cut... still costs $499 + $24 monthly subscription . 2025-02-23 . Liliputing . en-US . February 23, 2025 . https://web.archive.org/web/20250223175546/https://liliputing.com/humane-ai-pin-gets-a-200-price-cut-still-costs-499-24-monthly-subscription/ . live .
  35. Web site: Humane Recalls Charge Case Accessory for Ai Pin Due to Lithium Battery Fire Hazard . 2025-02-24 . U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission . en . August 22, 2025 . https://web.archive.org/web/20250822143041/https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/Humane-Recalls-Charge-Case-Accessory-for-Ai-Pin-Due-to-Lithium-Battery-Fire-Hazard . live .
  36. Web site: Amadeo . Ron . 2024-06-06 . How to build a DOA product: Humane AI Pin founders banned internal criticism . 2025-02-20 . Ars Technica . en-US.
  37. Web site: 2025-02-18 . HP's $116 Million Deal for Humane Includes IP But No AI Pin Device . 2025-02-18 . Bloomberg.
  38. Web site: Souppouris . Aaron . 2025-02-18 . All of Humane's AI pins will stop working in 10 days . 2025-02-20 . Engadget . en-US . August 6, 2025 . https://web.archive.org/web/20250806093949/https://www.engadget.com/ai/all-of-humanes-ai-pins-will-stop-working-in-10-days-225643798.html . live .
  39. Web site: Koebler · . Jason . 2025-02-19 . The Humane AI Pin: A $700 Brick of E-Waste . 2025-02-20 . 404 Media . en . August 29, 2025 . https://web.archive.org/web/20250829005825/https://www.404media.co/the-humane-ai-pin-a-700-brick-of-e-waste/ . live .
  40. Web site: Ai Pin Consumers FAQ . 2025-02-20 . Ground Control . en-US.
  41. Web site: Pierce . David . 2024-04-11 . Photography by Amelia Holowaty Krales . Humane AI Pin review: not even close . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240503161235/https://www.theverge.com/24126502/humane-ai-pin-review . May 3, 2024 . 2024-04-13 . The Verge . en.
  42. Web site: Wong . Raymond . 2024-04-11 . The Agony and Ecstasy of Reviewing Humane's Ai Pin . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240424092501/https://www.inverse.com/tech/humane-ai-pin-in-depth-review . April 24, 2024 . 2024-04-13 . Inverse . en.
  43. News: Chen . Brian X. . Tambunan . Andri . 2024-04-11 . This Artificially Intelligent Pin Wants to Free You From Your Phone . 2025-02-20 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331 . August 28, 2025 . https://web.archive.org/web/20250828072821/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/11/technology/personaltech/ai-pin-humane-openai-microsoft.html . live .
  44. Web site: Snelling . Grace . April 12, 2024 . Humane's Ai Pin was never going to be great . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240420231457/https://www.fastcompany.com/91092156/humanes-ai-pin-was-never-going-to-be-great . April 20, 2024 . April 13, 2024 . Fast Company.
  45. Web site: The Worst Product I've Ever Reviewed... For Now . . Marques . Brownlee . April 14, 2024 .
  46. Web site: Heath . Alex . April 16, 2024 . MKBHD Calls the Humane Ai Pin the Worst Product I've Ever Reviewed . October 10, 2024 . The Verge . June 3, 2025 . https://web.archive.org/web/20250603171258/https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/15/24131078/mkbhd-calls-the-humane-ai-pin-the-worst-product-ive-ever-reviewed . live .
  47. Web site: Mann . Jyoti . Humane's head engineer defends its Ai Pin against scathing reviews, but admits it's 'frustrating sometimes' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240422190926/https://www.businessinsider.com/humane-ai-pin-designer-wearable-tech-defends-device-2024-4 . April 22, 2024 . 2024-04-13 . Business Insider . en-US.

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