 "Humane AI, formed by ex-Apple engineers, to shut down AI pin, sell parts to HP for $116 million")
Humane AI, the startup founded by former Apple engineers, has announced that it is shutting down and selling its technology, patents, and part of its team to HP Inc. for $115 million. The company had gained significant attention in the AI hardware space with its wearable AI Pin, but poor reviews and limited adoption led to its rapid decline.
As part of the acquisition, HP will gain control of Humane’s AI platform, Cosmos, along with more than 300 patents and patent applications. Humane’s co-founders, Bethany Bongiorno and Imran Chaudhri, will also be joining HP, where they are expected to contribute to the company’s AI initiatives. The deal is set to be finalised by the end of this month.
AI Pin’s short-lived run ends
The AI Pin was introduced as a screen-free alternative to smartphones, offering an AI-powered assistant that interacted with users through voice commands and a laser projection interface. However, despite its futuristic concept, the $699 device struggled to meet expectations. Reviews highlighted issues with responsiveness, reliability, and limited real-world functionality, making it difficult to justify the price.
Humane AI had hoped to rake in $1 billion from the sale.
Following the shutdown announcement, Humane has confirmed that all AI Pin devices will cease to function after 3 PM ET on February 28. After this deadline, the devices will no longer be able to connect to Humane’s servers, which means features such as calling, messaging, AI responses, and cloud access will be completely disabled. Customers have been advised to download any important data—such as photos, videos, and notes—before the shutdown, as all cloud-stored content will be permanently erased.
HP’s AI expansion and plans for Humane’s technology
For HP, the acquisition marks a strategic move into AI-powered hardware. The company has announced the formation of a new division, HP IQ, which will focus on developing next-generation AI-driven devices. HP’s president of technology and innovation, Tuan Tran, has stated that the investment will help the company accelerate its work on AI solutions that function both locally and in the cloud.
With this acquisition, HP gains not only Humane’s intellectual property but also a team of engineers with experience in AI-driven user experiences. However, it remains to be seen how HP will integrate Humane’s technology into its own product lineup or whether it will attempt to develop a new version of the AI Pin concept under its brand.
Limited refunds lead to customer backlash
Humane has stated that only customers who purchased the AI Pin within the last 90 days will be eligible for a refund. Those who bought the device earlier will not receive any compensation, despite the product being discontinued. This decision has sparked frustration among early adopters, who now find themselves with a device that will soon become unusable.
The shutdown of Humane reflects the challenges of launching AI hardware in a rapidly evolving market. While the AI Pin was an ambitious attempt to redefine human-device interaction, its execution failed to gain traction. With HP now in control of its intellectual property, the future of Humane’s technology will depend on how the company chooses to integrate it into its AI ecosystem.
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