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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Siliconred (talk | contribs) at 20:04, 6 June 2024 (Undid revision 1227610927 by Siliconred (talk) Actually, the Time source states this explicitly: "(Investors in Humane include TIME co-chairs and owners Marc and Lynne Benioff)". So this is okay.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

humane
Founded2018
Founder
HeadquartersSan Francisco, California
ProductsAi Pin
Number of employees
200
Websitehumane.com

Humane Inc. (stylized as hu.ma.ne[1]) is an American consumer electronics company founded in 2018 by Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno.[2][3] The company designed and developed the Ai Pin, which started shipping in April 2024.[4]

History

Humane was founded by Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno[5] in 2018; the couple previously worked at Apple Inc.[3] The startup emerged from stealth mode in 2021.[6][7] Chaudhri revealed the device and demonstrated its features during a TED Talk in May 2023,[8][9] and it was later showcased at Paris Fashion Week in September.[10]

By November 2023, the company had raised $230 million,[11] with notable investors such as Marc Benioff, Sam Altman, Tiger Global, SoftBank, Qualcomm, Microsoft, LG, Volvo, and Salesforce. Microsoft and OpenAI also announced partnerships with Humane.[12]

Humane announced their wearable device would be called the "Ai Pin" in July 2023.[13][14] The device was formally announced on November 9, 2023, and sales started one week later.[11]

The Humane Ai Pin was featured by Time in its Best 200 Inventions of 2023, which was published before the product was released and without the magazine being provided a review unit for testing.[15] Time's co-chairs, Marc and Lynne Benioff, are investors in Humane Inc.[15]

In January 2024, the company laid off 4% of its staff (10 employees).[16] The device began shipping in April 2024.[4]

On May 22, 2024, Bloomberg reported news that Humane, Inc. was seeking a buyer for its business, initially considering offers in the $750 million to $1 billion range. [17]

Reception

Humane's Ai Pin has received generally negative reviews, praising its product design but criticizing the limited battery life and how easily the device overheats in just a few minutes.[18][19]

The Verge wrote, "After many days of testing, the one and only thing I can truly rely on the AI Pin to do is tell me the time."[18] The review from Inverse stated that it "is slow to answer even basic questions."[19] Fast Company noted that "Almost everything about the pin was a UX disaster for reviewers."[20]

In response to the criticism, lead Ai Pin engineer Ken Kocienda said that he used the product "all the time" but did find it "frustrating sometimes" in the same way as a laptop or smartphone.[21]

See also

References

  1. ^ Gallagher, William (March 8, 2023). "After 5 years of nothing, Humane 'startup' is now shifting to AI". AppleInsider. Archived from the original on November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  2. ^ Griffith, Erin; Mickle, Tripp (November 9, 2023). "Silicon Valley's Big, Bold Sci-Fi Bet on the Device That Comes After the Smartphone - Humane, a company started by two former Apple employees, says its new artificial intelligence pin can stop all the scrolling. Can it live up to the hype?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 10, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Porter, Jon (March 9, 2023). "Is buzzy startup Humane's big idea a wearable camera?". The Verge. Archived from the original on April 1, 2024. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Heater, Brian (February 23, 2024). "Humane pushes Ai Pin ship date to mid-April". TechCrunch. Archived from the original on April 25, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  5. ^ Brown, Damon (December 20, 2019). "How to Know It's Time to Leave Your Prominent Job". Inc. Magazine. Archived from the original on November 4, 2023.
  6. ^ Lunden, Ingrid (September 1, 2021). "Humane, a stealthy hardware and software startup co-founded by an ex-Apple designer and engineer, raises $100M". TechCrunch. Archived from the original on March 22, 2024. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  7. ^ "This Week in AI: Open AI Disables Internet Browsing, Humane's first "Ai Pin" reveal, Japan's Education Ministry Releases AI Guidelines, and Wimbledon Picks up AI". niural. Archived from the original on April 18, 2024. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  8. ^ Kastrenakes, Jacob (May 9, 2023). "Humane's new wearable AI demo is wild to watch — and we have lots of questions". The Verge. Archived from the original on April 17, 2024. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  9. ^ Fried, Ina (April 20, 2023). "Humane previews AI-powered wearable". Axios. Archived from the original on December 5, 2023.
  10. ^ Davis, Wes (September 30, 2023). "The Humane Ai Pin makes its debut on the runway at Paris Fashion Week". The Verge. Archived from the original on April 17, 2024. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  11. ^ a b Dave, Paresh (November 9, 2023). "Humane's Ai Pin is a $700 Smartphone Alternative You Wear All Day". Wired. Archived from the original on May 1, 2024. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  12. ^ Tilley, Aaron (March 8, 2023). "WSJ News Exclusive | Startup by Ex-Apple Executives Raises $100 Million, Partners With OpenAI, Microsoft". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Archived from the original on April 21, 2024. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  13. ^ Orr, Andrew (July 3, 2023). "Humane announces its wearable phone will be named 'Humane AI Pin'". AppleInsider. Archived from the original on November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  14. ^ Heater, Brian (September 30, 2023). "Humane's 'Ai Pin' debuts on the Paris runway". TechCrunch. Archived from the original on April 25, 2024. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  15. ^ a b Dixit, Pranav (October 24, 2023). "Humane Ai Pin: The 200 Best Inventions of 2023". Time. Rethinking the Smartphone. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  16. ^ Dent, Steve (January 10, 2024). "Humane lays off staff before its 'Ai Pin' begins shipping". Engadget. Archived from the original on February 4, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  17. ^ "Wearable AI Startup Humane Explores Potential Sale, Sources Say". Bloomberg. May 22, 2024. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  18. ^ a b Pierce, David (April 11, 2024). "Humane AI Pin review: not even close". The Verge. Photography by Amelia Holowaty Krales. Archived from the original on May 3, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  19. ^ a b Wong, Raymond (April 11, 2024). "The Agony and Ecstasy of Reviewing Humane's Ai Pin". Inverse. Archived from the original on April 24, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  20. ^ Snelling, Grace (April 12, 2024). "Humane's Ai Pin was never going to be great". Fast Company. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  21. ^ Mann, Jyoti. "Humane's head engineer defends its Ai Pin against scathing reviews, but admits it's 'frustrating sometimes'". Business Insider. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
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