Humane’s AI Pin dream ends: HP buys failing smartphone rival for parts

Remember the Humane AI Pin? The little gadget that wanted to replace your smartphone? Well, it looks like its journey has come to an end. But not in the way they hoped.

HP is buying Humane. Not the whole company, mind you. Just the good parts. HP is picking through a parts bin.

What’s Being Bought?

Here’s what HP gets for its $116 million:

• Humane’s team (including the founders)
• Their software platform
• Intellectual property

What *isn’t* included? The AI Pin itself.

Ouch. What Happened?

The AI Pin was supposed to be a game-changer. A wearable device that could make calls, send texts, answer questions, and even translate languages. All without a screen. Sounds cool, right?

It even had a laser projector that beamed a screen onto your hand. Futuristic!

Big names like Microsoft and OpenAI’s Sam Altman invested. They raised over $200 million. Things looked promising.

But then. .. reality hit.

The Reviews Were Brutal

Customers started returning the AI Pin. A lot of them.

One famous tech reviewer, Marques Brownlee, called it “the worst product I’ve ever reviewed. ” Harsh, right?

Why the hate?

• Slow response times
• Inaccurate answers
• Overheating issues
• Translation problems
• Unreadable screen in cloudy weather

Basically, it didn’t live up to the hype. Like ordering a pizza that looks amazing in the picture but arrives cold and soggy.

A Billion-Dollar Dream Dashed

Humane had hoped to sell for $1 billion. They raised over $230 million. But the AI Pin’s struggles changed everything.

The founders, who used to work at Apple, will lead a new AI division at HP. A fresh start, perhaps?

What’s Next?

The AI Pin? It’s being “bricked. ” Meaning it won’t work anymore. Owners are stuck with an expensive paperweight. Ouch.

What’s the takeaway? Sometimes, even with the best intentions and a lot of funding, a great idea just doesn’t pan out. It’s a tough lesson. But hey, that’s the tech world for you.