Humane, the AI startup founded by former Apple designers Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno, recently unveiled its inaugural product, the Humane AI Pin, priced at $699. This lapel pin integrates voice controls for functions like information retrieval, text messaging, and calling, potentially serving as a smartphone alternative. Notably, the pin features a laser display, turning the user’s palm into a miniature screen for time, date, and nearby information.
A distinctive feature is the absence of constant listening, as the device only activates upon user engagement through voice, touch, gesture, or the laser ink display. To operate independently of smartphones, the AI Pin requires a $24 monthly data subscription to T-Mobile. The device incorporates a Qualcomm chipset and boasts a built-in speaker and camera, enabling photo and video capture, with content viewable on Humane’s web app.
The AI Pin’s capabilities extend to real-time translation, accessing AI services from companies like Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI. It facilitates requests for music or information from sci-fi films, leveraging large language models for answers, requiring Tidal subscriptions for music access. The assistant can also provide summarized daily calendars, messages, and health data. With over $200 million raised in a financing round, including contributions from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, orders for the Humane AI Pin are set to commence on November 16.
