Humane today announced the launch of its first product, the Ai Pin. The Bay Area-based hardware startup has been around since 2017, a year after co-founders Bethany Bongiorno and Imran Chaudhry left Apple. Since then, the company has focused on building standalone AI devices with his $230 million deep pocket.
Ai Pin is the first in what Humane hopes will be a series of devices aimed at leveraging the power and popularity of generative AI platforms such as OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini. This system relies on a variety of LLM-based systems, utilizing what we believe to be the best platform for each individual job.
TechCrunch spoke with Bongorno and Chaudhri about the company's history and future plans. He also selected one of the devices for some practice testing. While the Humane Ai Pin is still a first-generation product in many ways, including reliability and functionality, the hardware exhibits a strong attention to detail that belies its founder's origins.
Humane's vision for the $699 device is that new technology is freed from the limitations of previous technology. Specifically, we mean an always-on, voice-based device that allows users to look up from their phone screen from time to time.
In a recent conversation, Bongiorno described the experience that set his co-founders on the path that ultimately led to Ping. “We were going to this dinner and there was a family sitting next to us,” she said. The conversation really started about not only the great tool we had built, but also some of the side effects. ”
Ai Pin is the first in what will almost certainly be a long line of products riding on the benefits of generative AI. Back at his CES in January, Rabbit turned heads with the handheld R1. At his MWC the following month, Brain.AI showed off his vision for a handset that uses generative AI as the core of a new operating system. As smartphone sales struggle, the field is already proving to be diverse.
Humane's $699 entry point gets you an Ai Pin, an extra battery, and an AI charging case. Various color options start at $799. A variety of accessories are available for $29 to $49, while the required subscription service will cost $24 per month. As a show of good faith, Humane is giving away 3 months free with the purchase of a pin.