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The history of Humane AI Pin is ending sooner than expected. Presented as a revolution, a true replacement for the smartphone, this gadget boosted by artificial intelligence will be permanently shut down in a few days. Humane, the start-up behind this ambitious project, was acquired by HP for 116 million dollars, thus condemning the product to a premature end. How could such a promising project fail so quickly? Deciphering 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 supposed 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 dollars, accompanied by a monthly subscription to 24 dollars, the device offered advanced features like real-time translation, question answering, and even call and message management.
But very quickly, the first users became disillusioned. The onboard AI was slow, inaccurate, and limited. What the Humane AI Pin a simple smartphone could do it better and faster. The trade press, as well as testers, were quick to point out the product's many flaws. Even influential high-tech critic Marques Brownlee called it "worst product I have ever tested".
HP buys Humane and finally buries the AI Pin
Visit February 18, 2025Humane announces its acquisition by HP and the immediate cessation of sales. But the most brutal news is this: from February 28, 2025all AI Pin still in circulation will cease to operate. The servers will be shut down, condemning the device to total obsolescence. No more access to online services, no more updates, no more support. From this date, 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 doesn't go 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 its way to establishing itself on the market. But this resounding failure proves one thing: a product based solely on AI 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 did not buy Humane for theAI Pin, but for its AI platform CosmOS and its portfolio of 300 patentsThe objective? Integrate these technologies into its own ecosystemincluding its PCs, printers and video conferencing systems. HP's AI Innovation Lab, named HP IQ, will welcome Humane engineers for develop solutions based on machine learning.
Why did the AI Pin fail?
The flop of the Humane AI Pin is 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 : AI put too much time to respond to requests.
- Technical problems : overheating, bugs, frequent errors.
- User experience disastrous : no screen, complicated navigation.
3. Over-ambitious communication
Humane has promised a revolution. But theAI Pin has never lived up to its promises. The marketing, although powerful, was not enough to mask the product's flaws.
The gadget will no longer work after February 28, 2025
The end is decided: all copies sold will become totally unusable at the end of the month. Humane 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 no longer be of any use.
Humane AI Pin: A Failure That Foreshadows Others?
L'AI Pin is not the first, and certainly not the last, high-tech gadget to collapse. The tech industry is undergoing a transformation with artificial intelligencebut not all innovations are viable. This buyback shows that Large companies focus primarily on the technologies behind the products, rather than the products themselves.
HP will now exploit Humane's patents and AI to improve its own ecosystem. Perhaps we will see soon AI-powered printers or PCs, but one thing is certain: The AI Pin is already a thing of the past.
Our opinion: a predictable ending
Visit Humane AI Pin had everything to intrigue, but nothing to convince. Too expensive, too limited, too server dependent, it was doomed to failure. Its abrupt shutdown is a hard blow for its few users, but an important lesson for the industry : a good idea is not enough, you still have to offer a successful product.
With this acquisition, HP is positioning itself on theEmbedded AI in its products, but the story of Humane will remain that of a promising start-up that wanted to move too fast. A little tour and then he leaves: The end for Humane AI Pin is final.