Humane has announced the release of its inaugural product, the Ai Pin. The Bay Area-based hardware startup, established in 2017 by former Apple employees Bethany Bongiorno and Imran Chaudhri, has secured substantial funding amounting to $230 million. Since its inception, Humane has concentrated its efforts on crafting stand-alone AI devices.
The Ai Pin marks the debut of what Humane envisions as a series of devices leveraging the capabilities of generative AI platforms such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. Employing various LLM-based systems tailored to specific tasks, the Ai Pin represents Humane’s initial foray into this realm.
In a discussion with TechCrunch, Bongiorno and Chaudhri shared insights into the company’s journey and its future aspirations. Additionally, hands-on testing of the device revealed it to be a first-generation product, albeit one crafted with meticulous attention to detail, reflecting the founders’ Apple heritage.
Priced at $699, the Humane Ai Pin aims to break free from the limitations of its predecessors by offering a voice-based, always-connected device. The goal is to encourage users to occasionally detach from their phone screens and engage more with their surroundings.
Bongiorno recounted an enlightening encounter that prompted the co-founders to develop the Ai Pin. “We had gone to this dinner, and there was a family sitting next to us,” she recalled. “There were three kids and a mom and dad, and they were on their phones the entire time. It really started a conversation about the incredible tool we built, but also some of the side effects.”
The Ai Pin represents just the beginning of Humane’s journey into the realm of generative AI. With other players like Rabbit and Brain.AI already showcasing their own innovations, the landscape promises diversity amidst challenges in smartphone sales.
The $699 purchase includes the Ai Pin, an additional battery, and an AI charging case, with different color options available starting at $799. Various accessories can be purchased separately, ranging from $29 to $49, and a subscription service is offered at $24 per month. As a gesture of goodwill, Humane is offering three free months of subscription with every pin purchase.
