Humane, the highly anticipated startup founded by former Apple design and engineering experts Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno, has finally unveiled its first product: The Humane AI Pin. With a veil of secrecy surrounding the company since its inception in 2018, Humane has been silently assembling a team of ex-Apple employees responsible for groundbreaking technologies like the iPhone’s touchscreen keyboard and elements of Apple’s industrial design.
The Humane AI Pin, a wearable gadget equipped with a projected display and AI-powered features, takes center stage as Humane’s inaugural offering. Although a live demo was previously given by Chaudhri during a TED Talk in April, today’s press release sheds more light on the device’s capabilities.
Described as a “connected and intelligent clothing-based wearable device,” the AI Pin utilizes an array of sensors to facilitate contextual and ambient interactions. This standalone gadget harnesses the power of AI through a software platform, enabling innovative personal computing experiences that aim to rival those of smartphones. With a simple tap, the AI Pin, designed to clip onto a breast pocket, can summarize emails and calendar invites, translate languages, and make and receive phone calls.
Beyond its communication capabilities, the AI Pin boasts a camera and computer vision-powered software, enabling it to identify objects in its surroundings, such as food nutrition labels. Additionally, its built-in projector and depth sensor allow for the projection of an interactive interface onto nearby surfaces, transforming a hand or a table into a virtual touchpad.
Humane also disclosed a collaboration with Qualcomm to develop the internal hardware of the AI Pin. Powered by an undisclosed Qualcomm Snapdragon chip, the wearable promises to deliver a superior AI experience. Further details about the device and its launch are expected to be revealed later this year.
In addition to its partnership with Qualcomm, Humane has joined forces with SK Networks, Microsoft, OpenAI, LG, and Volvo for various aspects of its product development and distribution. With over 200 employees and a funding amount of $230 million, Humane has garnered significant support from investors, including industry giants like Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
As Humane’s revolutionary AI Pin prepares to make its entrance into the market, it promises to redefine personal mobile computing by seamlessly integrating AI into everyday life, presenting a future that is screenless, sensing, and truly immersive.
