Humane has shared some big news: HP is buying most of its assets for $116 million. As a result, the startup is halting sales of its $499 AI Pins. They’ve warned customers that if they own a Pin, it will cease to work before noon PST on February 28, 2025, as noted in a recent blog post.
After that deadline, AI Pins won’t be able to make calls, send messages, or connect to the internet. Humane advises owners to back up their important photos and data right away.
The company will also shut down customer support for the AI Pin on the same date. Those who bought a Pin in the last three months can get a refund, but customers who purchased earlier will not be eligible, according to an FAQ.
This marks the end of Humane, which made headlines with its AI Pin launch in April 2024, aiming to replace smartphones. Founded by ex-Apple employees Bethany Bongiorno and Imran Chaudhri, Humane raised over $230 million to develop the device.
Unfortunately, the AI Pin didn’t meet customer expectations, leading to more returns than sales at times last summer, as reported by The Verge. Additionally, customers were warned about potential battery fire issues related to the charging case, and the device’s price was dropped by $200 after just a few months.
HP will not only acquire Humane’s technology, including its CosmOS AI operating system, but also bring on the company’s engineers and product managers. They will form a new team within HP called HP IQ, an “AI innovation lab” dedicated to enhancing HP’s products for the future.
Humane had initially hoped for a much larger acquisition, aiming between $750 million to $1 billion back in May 2024, as reported by Bloomberg.
Humane has yet to respond to TechCrunch’s inquiries.
Check out this related article: Humane’s AI Pin Shutdown: What It Means for Users and the Future of Technology with HP’s Acquisition
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