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The history of Humane AI Pin is coming to an end sooner than expected. Heralded as a revolutionary replacement for the smartphone, this artificial intelligence-powered gadget will die out in a few days' time. Humane, the start-up behind this ambitious project, was acquired by HP for 116 million dollarsand the product was condemned to a premature end. How could such a promising project fail so quickly? Let's decipher a resounding technological flop.
Humane AI Pin: a promise too good to be true
When it was launched in april 2024the Humane AI Pin promised to revolutionize our interaction with AI. This small device, attached to the chest like a high-tech badge, was to replace the smartphone by relying on voice commands and a laser projecting information into the palm of the hand. With a price from 699 dollarswith a monthly subscription to 24 dollarsThe device offered advanced features such as real-time translation, question answering and even call and message management.
But very quickly, the first users became disillusioned. On-board AI was slow, inaccurate and limited. What the Humane AI Pin a simple smartphone could do it better and faster. The trade press and testers alike were quick to point out the product's many shortcomings. Even Marques Brownlee, an influential high-tech critic, called it the "worst product I've ever tested"..
HP acquires Humane, burying the AI Pin for good
Visit February 18, 2025Humane announces its acquisition by HP and immediate halt to sales. But the most brutal news is this: from February 28, 2025all AI Pin still in circulation will cease to operate. Servers will be shut down, condemning the device to total obsolescence. More access to services online, no more updates, no more support. From now on, the only possible use of the device will be to display its own battery level.
Those who bought it after November 15, 2024 will be entitled to a full refund. The others? Too bad. An announcement that's not going down well with first-time buyers, who end up with a luxury gadget. unusable.
A lesson for the tech industry: AI isn't everything
With over 230 million raised with prestigious investors such as Microsoft and Sam Altman (OpenAI)Humane seemed well on the way to establishing itself on the market. But this resounding failure proves one thing: an AI-only product is not enough to justify its existence. L'AI Pin was intended to be a substitute for smartphones, but it offered no real added value.
HP didn't buy Humane for theAI Pinbut for his platform AI CosmOS and its portfolio of 300 patents. The goal? Integrate these technologies into your own ecosystemincluding its PCs, printers and videoconferencing systems. HP's AI Innovation Lab, named HP IQwill welcome Humane engineers for develop solutions based on machine learning.
Why did AI Pin fail?
The flop of the Humane AI Pin can be explained by several factors:
1. An exorbitant price for a limited product
699 + $24 per month for a device that does not nothing more than a smartphone ? It's hard to convince consumers. Especially since, after a few months, Humane lowered the price to 400 dollars in an attempt to boost sales, to no avail.
2. A poorly designed product
- Slow and unresponsive the AI put too much time to respond to requests.
- Technical problems overheating, bugs, frequent errors.
- Disastrous user experience no screen, complicated navigation.
3. Over-ambitious communication
Humane has promised a revolution. But theAI Pin has never lived up to its promises. Visit marketingalthough powerful, was not enough to mask the product's flaws.
The gadget will stop working after February 28, 2025
The end is in sight: all copies sold will become totally unusable at the end of the month. Humane has advised users to back up their data (photos, videos, notes). before server shutdown. After this date :
- AI will be disabled.
- No more calls or messages.
- All data stored online will be lost.
- The device will be useless.
Humane AI Pin: a failure that heralds others?
L'AI Pin is not the first, and certainly not the last high-tech gadget to collapse. The tech industry is changing with artificial intelligencebut not all innovations are viable. This buyback shows that large companies focus more on the technologies behind their products than on the products themselves.
HP will now exploit Humane's patents and AI to improve its own ecosystem. Perhaps we'll soon see AI-powered printers and PCsbut one thing is certain: AI Pin is already a thing of the past.
Our verdict: a predictable ending
Visit Humane AI Pin had everything to intrigue, but nothing to convince. Too expensive, too limited, too dependent on serversit was doomed to failure. Its sudden demise is a blow to its few users, but an important lesson for the industry : a good idea isn't enough: you also have to offer a finished product..
With this acquisition, HP is positioning itself in theOn-board AI in its products, but the Humane story will remain one of of a promising start-up that tried to move too fast. A little tour and then you're gone: the end for Humane AI Pin is definitive.