Federal Authorities Issue Recall for Safe AI-Powered Pin Charger Over Fire Concerns
Following several months of controversy, the Humane AI Pin appears to be teetering on the brink of its own downfall. On a recent Thursday, a report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission pushed the AI wearable closer to the edge, following the company's faulty battery charger. Humane announced a "voluntary" recall of 10,500 units of its egg-shaped charge case accessory for the AI Pin, due to concerns it might overheat, potentially leading to a fire.
As per the CPSC recall page, no injuries have been reported due to the charge case overheating. Only a single report of a charge case overheating and "melting" while plugged in has been recorded, without causing any injuries. Interestingly, Humane announced the "voluntary" recall on Halloween, attributing the issue to a "third-party USB-C cable and a third-party power source."
The company did not elaborate on what a "third-party power source" entails. It technically could refer to any power brick, charging pack, or even an outlet. Humane instructed users to cease using the original charging cases in June due to a "fire safety risk." It appears the company has been unable to find a solution after more than four months.
Nevertheless, Humane insists that the issue is unrelated to the AI Pin's hardware design. Regardless, the CPSC advises any lingering Humane users to stop using the charge case immediately. They can contact Humane for a $150 refund or replacement. Users who obtained the charge case individually or at a discount with the AI Pin Complete bundle can only expect a $130 refund.
"We have secured a new battery cell vendor for the Charge Case Accessory and are undergoing a thorough qualification process," the company stated. "We estimate replacement Charge Case Accessories will be available in 3 to 6 months."
With the recall, utilizing the AI Pin on the go becomes significantly more challenging. Even at launch, critics noted the AI Pin's tendency to heat up, in addition to the heat the Charge Case produced. The AI Pin is intended to function as a constant, perpetually active "assistant." However, it proved to be quite power-hungry, requiring users to replace a new battery every few hours. Consequently, the charge case was crucial to keep the assistant operational when out and about. Now, the only viable option to charge the battery packs is either directly through the device or on the $80 charge pad.
Bloomberg reported in May that Humane was considering selling its company for between $750 and $1 billion. However, it remains unclear how any of these problems with the pin have affected its initial plans for a sale.
Last week, Humane disclosed its plans to launch an SDK and licensing opportunities for its CosmOS. This will enable outside companies or programmers to create their own AI agents to operate on the Pin or anyone else opting to adopt the company's operating system.
Personal AI devices have yet to convince the masses. The Rabbit R1 also met with unfavorable reviews upon launch, before being embroiled in controversy over its Android-based software and privacy concerns. However, the Ray Ban Meta glasses function well enough as basic picture and video glasses, although Meta's AI struggles to recognize objects effectively.
In light of the ongoing battery issues and the recent recall, the future of Humane's AI Pin in the tech industry seems uncertain. Despite these challenges, Humane announced plans to launch an SDK and licensing opportunities for its CosmOS, aiming to allow external developers to create their own AI agents, potentially redefining the company's future in artificial intelligence.
The controversies surrounding Humane's AI Pin, along with other personal AI devices like the Rabbit R1 and its privacy concerns, highlight the need for tech companies to prioritize safety and user privacy in the development and deployment of artificial intelligence technology.
