Humane AI Pin Acquired by HP for $116 Million
Humane, an innovative startup known for its AI Pin, has been acquired by HP in a deal worth $116 million. The announcement made on Tuesday confirmed that the sale of the $499 wearable device would cease immediately.
Current owners of the AI Pin have been informed that their devices will stop functioning on February 28, 2025, at 12 PM PST. After this date, the AI Pin will no longer connect with Humane’s servers, which will disable all functionalities including calls, messaging, AI interactions, and access to the cloud. Humane has encouraged users to back up their data as soon as possible, and customer support will also be terminated on this date.
In a blog post, Humane stated that the decision to cease the consumer AI Pin was made as a result of changing business priorities.
Founded by former Apple employees Bethany Bongiorno and Imran Chaudhri, Humane raised over $230 million to develop the AI Pin, which was launched in April 2024. Marketed as a possible replacement for smartphones, the device struggled with negative feedback and low adoption rates. Early users reported dissatisfaction, leading to returns that exceeded sales figures by mid-2024. Additionally, there were warnings against using the AI Pin’s charging case due to potential fire risks. In an effort to boost interest, Humane reduced the price of the AI Pin by $200 in October 2024.
Initially, Humane was aiming for a larger acquisition worth between $750 million and $1 billion in mid-2024, however, they ultimately settled for a lower valuation.
HP intends to incorporate Humane’s engineers and product managers into a newly established division named HP IQ, which will concentrate on AI advancements across HP products, including PCs and printers. Furthermore, HP will obtain Humane’s CosmOS AI operating system, touted for its capacity to operate on an array of devices such as automobiles, smart speakers, televisions, and Android smartphones. This acquisition signals HP’s commitment to developing AI-powered ecosystems, yet the specifics of how Humane’s technology will fit into HP’s product landscape remain to be clarified.
