HP is acquiring Humane AI for $116 million, discontinuing AI Pin

HP is acquiring Humane AI for $116 million, discontinuing AI Pin
HIGHLIGHTS

The Humane AI Pin will no longer connect to servers, stopping cloud-dependent features like calls and messaging after February 28.

Users can request prorated refunds for Humane subscriptions past February 28.

HP plans to use Humane’s technology to build "experience-led" products through its new innovation lab, HP IQ.

Do you remember the Humane AI Pin which grabbed a lot of attention at the MWC last year. The Pin was touted to be among the best inventions of the year but later faced criticism for the shortcomings. In the latest update, HP has acquired the AI startup  confirming that it will be taking its software platform, intellectual property, patents, and talent. However, the Humane AI Pin will be discontinued. 

Humane AI Pin discontinued?

Starting February 28, the company will stop its operation and will no longer connect to the servers. It means that it will not include calling, messaging, AI queries or cloud access. The company is even asking the users to download the pictures, videos and notes stored on their Pins before they are permanently deleted at the shutdown. However, offline features like battery level will work but no feature that will require cloud connectivity will not function. 

Speaking of the refunds, the company has stated that the AI Pins which were purchased within the 90-day return window from their original shipment date, as per the FAQ about the takeover. 

Refunds “must be submitted by February 27th, 2025.” If you have paid for a Humane subscription past February 28th, Humane says that “we will process a prorated refund.”

Also read: Chandigarh man loses Rs 9 lakh in credit card scam: Here’s what happened

HP takeover

Humane was established in 2019 by Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno. However, the device experienced significant issues, including overheating and inaccurate AI responses, resulting in only 10,000 orders rather than the expected 100,000. Following negative reviews, Humane began talks with HP about a possible sale for more than $1 billion. 

HP is now planning to expand its product ecosystem and establish HP IQ, an innovation lab. Chaudhri and Bongiorno will join HP, which plans to use Humane’s technology to create more “experience-led” products.

Ashish Singh

Ashish Singh

Ashish Singh is the Chief Copy Editor at Digit. Previously, he worked as a Senior Sub-Editor with Jagran English from 2022, and has been a journalist since 2020, with experience at Times Internet. Ashish specializes in Technology. In his free time, you can find him exploring new gadgets, gaming, and discovering new places. View Full Profile

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