Humane, the artificial intelligence (AI) startup founded by former Apple designers Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno, has introduced its inaugural product, the Humane AI Pin, signaling a groundbreaking move five years after the company’s establishment.
Priced at $699, the Humane AI Pin positions itself as a multifaceted device capable of supplanting smartphones, equipped with advanced functionalities like voice controls for information retrieval, text messaging, and phone calls. Noteworthy is its miniature laser projector, transforming the user’s palm into a compact screen, displaying real-time information such as the time, date, and nearby details.
In a launch video on the company’s website, Imran Chaudhri highlighted the device’s privacy-centric design, stating, “There are no wake words, so it’s not always listening or always recording. In fact, it doesn’t do anything until you engage with it, and your engagement comes through your voice, touch, gesture, or the laser ink display.”
Setting itself apart from conventional smartwatches, the Humane AI Pin operates independently of smartphones. However, users will need to subscribe to a $24 monthly data plan with T-Mobile to access the device’s full range of capabilities.
Humane successfully raised over $200 million in a financing round in March, featuring notable contributions from figures like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff. The company has announced that orders for the Humane AI Pin will commence on November 16.
Powered by a Qualcomm chipset, the AI Pin boasts features such as a built-in speaker and camera, the latter displaying a light when activated. It can capture photos and videos, accessible through Humane’s web app. Showcased capabilities also include real-time translation of spoken conversations from Spanish to English, access to AI services through the internet with contributions from major companies like Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI, and the ability to request information or music. Tidal subscriptions are required for music access. Furthermore, the device’s assistant offers summarizations of daily calendars, messages, and health data.
As the Humane AI Pin emerges onto the tech scene, it promises to redefine the landscape of personal AI devices, offering users a seamless and innovative alternative to traditional smartphones.
