So, remember Humane? The AI hardware startup that hyped up its futuristic Ai Pin as the next evolution in wearable AI? Yeah, turns out things didn’t exactly go as planned. In a not-so-surprising turn of events, HP Inc. is now swooping in to acquire a chunk of Humane’s assets in a $116 million deal—which, let’s be honest, sounds like a polite way of saying “we’ll take what works and leave the rest.”
The Rise (and Stumble) of Humane
Humane, founded by ex-Apple designers, made a lot of noise about its screenless Ai Pin—a wearable AI assistant meant to replace your smartphone. It could respond to voice commands, project information onto your hand, and use AI to predict what you needed before you even asked. Sounds cool, right?
The problem? The Ai Pin turned out to be expensive ($699 + subscription fees), buggy, and impractical. It struggled with battery life, overheated, and often didn’t work as smoothly as the polished marketing videos suggested. Reviews were brutal, and sales? Not exactly setting records.
So, instead of becoming the next iPhone, Humane became the next AI cautionary tale.
What’s HP Getting Out of This?
While Humane’s dream of a screenless AI future might have fizzled, the technology behind it still has potential—especially in the hands of a company like HP, which has the resources to refine (or completely reimagine) it.
Reports indicate that HP is acquiring patents, IP, and possibly some of Humane’s talent. The goal? To integrate AI-driven computing into HP’s product lineup, though it’s unclear if they’ll stick with wearables or pivot toward AI-powered PCs, tablets, or even something entirely new.
What This Means for AI Wearables
This deal signals two big things for the AI hardware space:
- Wearable AI still has a future—but not in its current form. Humane’s Ai Pin may not have been “the one,” but HP clearly sees something worth salvaging.
- Big tech isn’t giving up on AI-first devices. Despite Humane’s missteps, HP is betting that AI hardware—done right—can still be a game-changer.
Final Thought: Is HP the Right Fit?
HP is known for solid but not particularly groundbreaking consumer tech. So, whether they can turn Humane’s ambitious vision into something practical and mainstream remains to be seen. Will we see an HP Ai Pin 2.0? An AI-powered laptop assistant? Or will Humane’s ideas get buried in HP’s innovation graveyard?
Time will tell. But for now, Humane’s big AI gamble is officially over—and HP is picking up the pieces.