Humane, a Bay Area-based hardware startup founded by former Apple employees Bethany Bongiorno and Imran Chaudhri in 2017, has unveiled its inaugural product, the Ai Pin. With $230 million in funding, the company has dedicated its efforts to developing stand-alone AI gadgets, with the Ai Pin being the first in a series.
Image Credits: Brian Heater
The Ai Pin utilizes cutting-edge generative AI platforms like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, employing various LLM-based systems tailored to specific tasks. Despite being a first-generation product, the Ai Pin showcases meticulous design, reflecting the founders’ attention to detail.
Priced at $699, the Ai Pin is positioned as a solution to excessive smartphone use, offering an always-connected, voice-activated device to encourage users to engage with the world beyond their screens. Inspired by observing a family absorbed in their phones during a dinner outing, Bongiorno and Chaudhri envisioned a technology that could mitigate such distractions.
Humane’s entry into the market comes amid a surge in generative AI-driven devices, with competitors like Rabbit and Brain.AI showcasing similar innovations. The $699 package includes the Ai Pin, an additional battery, and an AI charging case, with customization options available starting at $799. Additionally, accessories ranging from $29 to $49 and a $24/month subscription service complement the offering, with a three-month free trial offered to early adopters.
