The American company HP has purchased the assets of Humane for $116 million, the startup said in a statement. Following the deal, Humane immediately stops selling its flagship device, AI Pin, which costed $499 per item.
- According to the FAQ page, users will no longer be able to use the device after February 28, 2025.
- After that date, the AI Pin will lose access to Humane's servers, making it impossible to make calls, send messages, use cloud storage and AI features.
- Humane recommends that customers dispose of their Ai Pin through an e-waste recycling program, as no online functions will work and it will only be able to provide offline information such as battery level.
- Owners were also advised to immediately transfer their important data to an external device.
- In addition, the company will discontinue AI Pin customer support on February 28. Customers who bought the device within the last 90 days will be able to get a refund, but those who bought the device earlier will not have this option.
- According to Bloomberg, in May 2024, Humane tried to sell the company for a much higher price - from $750 million to $1 billion.
HP announced that Humane's team of engineers, architects and innovators will become part of the new HP IQ division, which will work to integrate artificial intelligence into the HP ecosystem of products and services. The company will also receive Humane's technologies, including the CosmOS AI operating system, which can be used in PCs, printers and other HP devices.
This news ends the story of Humane, which less than a year ago, in April 2024, unveiled the AI Pin as a potential replacement for smartphones. The startup was founded by former Apple employees Bethany Bongiorno and Imran Chaudhry and raised more than $230 million in investment to create the device.
What is this device?
The AI Pin was a technological pin that attached to clothing and created a projection of information directly onto the hand. It was equipped with AI tools, had a voice assistant, and allowed users to take first-person photos.
However, AI Pin did not meet the expectations of users and reviewers, which led to financial difficulties for Humane. In the summer of 2024, the return rate of the AI Pin exceeded the sales level.
In addition, attention to the new device began to decline after the AI model displayed incorrect data in their demo video. Humane also urged users to stop using the charging case due to the risk of battery fire. Following the hardships, the company lowered the price of the device from $699 to $499, which didn't fix the bigger problem with the device being incredibly flawed and unwanted.
