HP Acquires Parts of Humane’s Business for $116 Million
AI startup Humane announced on Tuesday that it is discontinuing its AI Pin and selling parts of its business to HP for $116 million. The acquisition is expected to close at the end of February and will involve HP taking over Humane’s employees, software, patents, and patent applications.
As part of this transition, Humane stated that the AI Pin will be discontinued effective immediately and that sales of the devices will also halt. According to an update on their website, customers are informed that their AI Pin will function regularly until 12 p.m. PST on February 28, 2025, after which it will no longer connect to Humane’s servers.
Humane has committed to offering refunds for AI Pins shipped on or after November 15, 2024, with all refund requests needing to be submitted by February 27.
Future Developments at HP
Following the acquisition, Humane’s co-founders, Bethany Bongiorno and Imran Chaudhri, along with their team, will join HP’s new AI Innovation Lab, known as HP IQ. The couple, both former Apple employees, founded Humane in 2019, bringing a wealth of experience to their new roles.
HP commented that this division will focus on developing an intelligent ecosystem across its product line for the future of work.
About the AI Pin
Released in November 2023, the AI Pin was Humane’s inaugural product, marketed as an AI personal assistant capable of handling calls and texts through voice commands while also featuring a unique laser-projected display.
The AI Pin garnered attention by being included in Time magazine’s list of best inventions in October 2023. Despite its anticipation, it faced criticism primarily regarding its design and functionality. In response, Humane reduced the price from $699 to $499 in October.
In response to critiques, Bongiorno and Chaudhri assured Business Insider in April that this was just the “beginning of the story,” outlining plans for software enhancements, new features, and partnerships that would evolve the AI Pin over time.
