"MKBHD Critiques 'The Most Disappointing Product': AI Startup Closes, Liquidated for Component Sales"
With Humane's journey drawing to a close, the AI startup has officially been acquired by tech giant HP. However, the controversial AI Pin, notoriously dubbed "the worst product ever reviewed" by YouTuber Marques Brownlee, is not part of the deal. Instead, Humane has announced that it's winding down support for the Pin, pausing orders, and encouraging users to download their media before February 28.
Post-acquisition, Humane's AI division, including its founders Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno, will join HP. They'll be tasked with integrating AI into HP's hardware, such as computers, printers, and conferencing tools.
Unfortunately for some Pin buyers, they'll be left with a crippled device once hailed as tech's future. Effective February 28, the Pin will lose features like call and messaging capabilities, cloud integration, and its AI shenanigans. A fortunate few will be eligible for refunds, but it seems those who purchased the device before November 15, 2024, are out of luck.
Despite the hefty investment from backers like OpenAI's Sam Altman, Salesforce's Marc Benioff, and Microsoft, Humane has been actively seeking a buyer since May 2024, initially hoping to sell the business for $750 million to $1 billion. However, it seems the final sale price was a significantly lower $116 million.
Humane's AI Pin was met with negative reviews across the board, which might have contributed to its failure. The device struggled with technical issues, like overheating and poor battery life, and had a high price tag of $699, not to mention the subscription model. The market simply was not ready for this ambitious project, and it appears Brownlee saw the writing on the wall.
Sources:1. The Worst Product I’ve Ever Reviewed... For Now – MKBHD2. Humane AI's AI Pin Fails to Impress Reviewers and Consumers3. HP Acquires AI Startup Humane to Boost Presence in AI and Machine Learning4. Humane AI Sold to HP for $116 Million5. Why Humane’s AI Pin Failed: A Deep Dive into Its Technical Flaws and Market Missteps
The controversial AI Pin, which Marques Brownlee labeled as "the worst product ever reviewed," was not included in Humane's acquisition deal with HP. Instead, Humane has chosen to discontinue support for the Pin, advising users to download their media before February 28.
Following the acquisition, Humane's AI division, led by Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno, will be integrated into HP's hardware offerings, such as computers, printers, and conferencing tools.
Despite significant investments from backers like OpenAI's Sam Altman and Salesforce's Marc Benioff, Humane found it necessary to seek a buyer since May 2024, ultimately selling for a lower price than initially hoped.
The market's rejection of Humane's AI Pin, characterized by negative reviews, technical issues, a high price tag, and subscription model, may have contributed to the startup's struggles and eventual sale.