On Thursday, after months of demos and hints about what the AI-powered future of gadgets might look like, Humane finally took the wraps off of its first device: the AI Pin.
The device, priced at $699 and set to ship in early 2024, consists of a square device and a magnetically attachable battery pack. The additional cost includes a $24 monthly fee for a Humane subscription, providing users with a phone number and data coverage through T-Mobile’s network. Preorders for the AI Pin begin on November 16th.
Powered by a Snapdragon processor, the AI Pin introduces a new era of interaction with a combination of voice control, gestures, a camera, and a built-in projector. Weighing 34 grams, the device features a 13-megapixel camera for photos and videos, with the ability to manually activate data collection through tapping and dragging on the touchpad.
Humane’s operating system, Cosmos, and the AI Mic software connect the AI Pin to models from Microsoft and OpenAI, with ChatGPT access being one of its core features. Unlike traditional gadgets, the Pin aims to streamline the user experience by automatically routing queries to the right tools without the need for managing apps or settings.
Imran Chaudhri, co-founder of Humane, demonstrated various features during a TED demo, showcasing voice-based messaging and calling, email inbox summarization, nutritional information retrieval by holding up food to the camera, and real-time translation. The device’s primary purpose appears to be a wearable, language-model-powered search engine, with plans to add navigation and shopping capabilities.
Humane envisions the AI Pin as the initial step in a broader project, anticipating improvements over time as underlying models evolve. The company’s vision aligns with the smartphone evolution, where hardware improvements enhance the user experience, but the true revolution lies in the device’s capabilities. As the tech industry continues to explore AI applications, Humane positions itself at the forefront of innovation with its groundbreaking AI Pin.