Humane has announced the sale of the majority of its business to HP for $116 million. As part of this transition, Humane will cease sales of its AI Pin product.
According to a support document released by Humane, users who have already purchased the AI Pin device can continue using it until 3:00 PM Eastern Time on February 28, 2025. After this date, these devices will no longer be able to connect to Humane's servers. This means that features such as calls, messaging, AI queries/responses, and cloud access will all stop functioning. Humane advises users to download any images, videos, and notes stored on their AI Pin before the service is terminated to avoid permanent data loss.
While offline functions like battery level display will remain usable after the shutdown, any features requiring cloud connectivity, such as voice interaction, AI responses, and .Center access, will become unavailable.
In terms of refund policies, Humane stated in its FAQ that refunds will only be available for AI Pins purchased within 90 days from the original shipping date. Users must submit refund requests by February 27, 2025. For Humane subscription users whose service extends beyond February 28, 2025, the company will provide prorated refunds.
Additionally, for customers awaiting replacement charging cases due to recalls, Humane will automatically issue refunds for the original purchase price of the charging case after February 28, 2025.
In this transaction, HP acquired Humane's CosmOS system, integrated Humane's technical team, and obtained over 300 patents and patent applications.
Looking back at the development of AI Pin, the product was first demonstrated live on the TED stage before its official launch, but the demonstration raised numerous questions. Subsequently, the release video had to be updated to correct significant errors. AI Pin officially launched in April 2024 but faced harsh criticism. Several tech media outlets pointed out its poor performance, with some reviewers calling it "the worst product we've tested."
Reports indicate that AI Pin experienced weak sales after its launch, prompting Humane to begin seeking buyers soon after. The initial asking price was reportedly as high as $1 billion, far exceeding the final acquisition price of $116 million. Due to daily returns exceeding sales, Humane reduced the price of AI Pin in October of the same year.
Despite adding new features to the CosmOS software for AI Pin, Humane also seemed to position CosmOS as an operating system that other companies could embed into their products.
According to Bloomberg, an HP executive mentioned that Humane's team, including founders Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno, will establish a new division within HP. This team will assist in integrating artificial intelligence into HP's PCs, printers, and connected meeting solutions. The new group, named HP IQ, represents HP's new AI innovation lab, focusing on building a smart ecosystem across HP products and services tailored for future work scenarios.
