Humane Ai Pin Faces Harsh Criticism and Potential Sale
Days before gadget reviewers weighed in on the Humane Ai Pin, a futuristic wearable device powered by artificial intelligence, the founders of the company gathered their employees and warned them to brace themselves for potentially disappointing reviews. And disappoint, they did.
In April, reviewers brutally panned the new $699 product, with some calling it “totally broken” and “the worst product I’ve ever reviewed.” This came as a blow to Humane, which had marketed the device for a year with high-profile ads and events like Paris Fashion Week.
Following the scathing reviews, Humane began discussions with HP and other potential buyers about a possible sale for more than $1 billion. The company also retained an investment bank to help navigate these conversations and manage a new funding round that would value it at $1.1 billion.
This turn of events marks a significant setback for Humane, which had raised $240 million from top Silicon Valley investors and had been seen as a top contender in the world of A.I. hardware makers. The company had ambitious plans to disrupt the smartphone industry but now finds itself struggling to meet sales targets and address product flaws.
Despite the challenges, the founders of Humane, Bethany Bongiorno and Imran Chaudhri, remain optimistic about the Ai Pin’s potential. They have been working to address the device’s issues, including improving battery life and response time, and have received interest from businesses across various industries.
While the future of Humane and the Ai Pin remains uncertain, the founders are determined to keep pushing forward. As Ms. Bongiorno stated, “We just want to build,” with Mr. Chaudhri adding, “We have to look at how best we fund that.” The tech world will be watching closely to see how Humane navigates this challenging period and whether the Ai Pin can overcome its rocky start.
