this post was submitted on 18 Feb 2025
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532
All of Humane's AI pins will stop working in 10 days (www.engadget.com)
submitted 3 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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[–] [email protected] 22 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (4 children)

I had never heard of it. From wiki

The Ai Pin is a wearable device, meant to be attached to the user's shirt at chest level. It is a voice assistant and cellular phone, equipped with a camera, and a limited monochrome "screen" that's projected onto the user's hand on demand. The user mostly interacts with the device through a small touchpad, and also hand gestures when the projection screen is active.[15]

The Ai Pin has received generally negative reviews, praising its product design but criticizing the limited battery life and how easily the device overheats in just a few minutes.[23][24] The New York Times reported that due to overheating problems, Humane executives would use ice packs to chill the pin before previewing it to investors or partners.[14]

The Verge wrote, "After many days of testing, the one and only thing I can truly rely on the Ai Pin to do is tell me the time."[23] The review from Inverse stated that it "is slow to answer even basic questions."[24] Fast Company noted that "Almost everything about the pin was a UX disaster for reviewers."[25]

What the hell does hp see in this?

* Sigh. I know it's not the product, I know HP bought the IP. i can't see how there is any significant IP from this company in development of this product.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 3 days ago (2 children)

It has AI in the name.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 3 days ago

Yep!

All the tech companies are invested in AI, and it's gloriously expensive to do from scratch. Instead, they'll drop $100 million to "stay relevant in today's climate" without doing any work.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

Also “H” “P”

[–] [email protected] 8 points 3 days ago (1 children)

If nothing else, the list of customers who were interested enough to spend money on such a product might be valuable to them.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 days ago

10,000 buyers. Yeah, no.

Even it was much higher, yeah no.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

IP hoarding of products that may potentially be produced. Millions of dollars aren't a pocket change, but if anyone's going into this wearable AI bullshit, HP'd make a hole in their pockets. It's a low stakes conservative gamble 'just in case'.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 days ago (2 children)

I have a hard time seeing much patentable. They can't just patent 'wearable pin', it has to be much more specific.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

it has to be much more specific.

Nintendo enters the chat

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

They probably have patented some underlying technology they spent time researching to make the product viable.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago

Sigh. I know it’s not the product, I know HP bought the IP. i can’t see how there is any significant IP from this company in development of this product.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Nothing, and that's why they are shutting it down. You should read the article, HP's comments on what they get from the acquisition are directly quoted in it.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Seriously?

Ok:

What the hell does hp see in IP in this?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

Probably a new smart way to force sell you printer ink.

P.S. buy a Brother printer instead

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Again, also nothing. Here, I'll just quote the quote for you.

HP says the acquisition will bring Humane's "engineers, architects and product innovators" to a new team called HP IQ, which it describes as an "AI innovation lab focused on building an intelligent ecosystem across HP’s products and services for the future of work."

They don't care about the IP or the hardware. They wanted the talent.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

Again, seriously?

Today’s discontinuation announcement was brought about by the acquisition of Humane by HP, which is buying the company’s intellectual property for $116 million

The article says they bought the IP. For someone so snarky you sure have it wrong. Now with a merger of fucking course you get employees with it, that's how it works. But Mr snark, the article says they bought it for the IP.

But let's talk business. Now what's a cheaper way if you want the employees? You offer them a job. Costs nothing. Most would be happy to take it. How many staff were even left, after the obvious product failure, layoffs, and the best people seeing the writing on the wall and leaving. You're gonna pay what at least a cool half million per employee? Talk about a finders fee, instead of just offering them a job.

Can't wait to see how you try to snark your way out of that. I probably won't respond, not worth it when you act like that.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago

Didn't mean to be so snarky mate. Have a good one.