Humane, a San Francisco-based startup, is in discussions with potential buyers following the underwhelming launch of its Ai Pin wearable device, which received harsh criticism for technical issues and poor performance in the market.
In April 2023, Humane, a San Francisco-based startup, released the Ai Pin, a $699 wearable device powered by artificial intelligence. The device, intended to disrupt the smartphone market, quickly faced critical reviews labelling it as “totally broken” and “the worst product I’ve ever reviewed.” Following the negative feedback, Humane initiated discussions with HP and other potential buyers about selling the company for over $1 billion.
Humane, founded by former Apple employees Bethany Bongiorno and Imran Chaudhri, had raised $240 million from Silicon Valley investors like Sam Altman and Marc Benioff. However, technical problems, such as the device’s overheating and inadequate battery life, affected its market performance, with only 10,000 orders compared to an initial target of 100,000.
Efforts to mitigate these issues included updating the Ai Pin with OpenAI’s newest chatbot system and enhancements to improve battery life and usability. Despite these updates, Humane faced challenges, including employee departures and concerns about the device’s charging case posing a fire risk.
The company continues exploring potential collaborations and sales options while navigating its financial and operational difficulties.
