A smartphone that knows what you need, knows when to record, which music to play according to the situation, provide nutritional recommendations, and project the options screen on the palm of your hand.
Humane has launched its first device, the AI Pin.
It looks like a small pin, the pin itself is a square device attached magnetically to clothes or other surfaces. The pin is powered by batteries, meaning you can replace new batteries throughout the day to keep the Pin operational. We don’t know how long a single battery lasts, but the device comes with two “battery accelerators.” It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and uses a camera, depth sensors, and motion sensors to track and document its surroundings. It has a built-in speaker, which Humane calls a “personal speaker,” and can connect to wireless headphones.
Since there is no screen, Humane has invented new ways to interact with the device. It is primarily designed to be a voice-based device, but it also has the green laser projector we saw in the demos, which can project information on your hand. The Pin does not always record or listen, but requires you to activate it manually. It has a “warning light” that flashes every time the Pin is recording.
Documents indicate that Humane wants the Pin to be considered a completely independent device, not an accessory to your smartphone. For $699, you will receive the pin, charger, and two battery accelerators. But the real story is that it costs $24 per month for a Humane subscription, which includes a phone number and cellular data on Humane’s branded wireless service operating on the T-Mobile network, cloud storage for photos and videos, and the ability to create unlimited AI model queries.
The Pin’s operating system is called Cosmos, and instead of functioning as a collection of applications, it seems that Humane envisions a more integrated system that can call upon different AIs and tools as needed. It sounds a bit like the ChatGPT add-on system, where you can add new features or data to your chatbot experience – following reports that the Pin will be powered by GPT-4.
The Pin can write messages that sound like you, and there is a feature that summarizes your inbox. The pin can also translate languages and identify food to provide nutritional information. It supports Tidal music streaming, including a “DJ AI” that selects music for you based on your current context. It will also offer AI-driven photography features.
It is clear that Humane aims for the Pin to be an independent and simple device, but there is a way to manage the device: a tool called Humane.center, where you are supposed to set and personalize the device before you start using it. It is not clear if it is a website or a phone app, but this is how you can access settings, videos, and photos you collected while wearing the pin.
Orders for the AI Pin began on November 16, and the company states that “this is just the beginning.”
