this post was submitted on 19 Feb 2025
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Humane (makers of the Humane AI Pin) acquired by HP: "HP Accelerates AI Software Investments to Transform the Future of Work" (humane.com)
submitted 1 day ago by [email protected] to c/technology
10 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

In news that surprises absolutely no one, the makers of the infamous Humane AI Pin—a device that was overpriced, underwhelming, and widely returned—have been acquired by HP.

As expected, this acquisition effectively bricks existing AI Pins. According to the press release, some features will still work, such as checking the battery level. Incredible.

The real kicker? The people behind this spectacular failure are getting a massive payday from HP. Meanwhile, customers who dropped $700+ (plus a monthly fee!) on this glorified paperweight are left in the dust.

HP has a long history of acquiring pointless companies, so this doesn’t redeem the AI Pin in any way. If anything, it just reinforces that the product was as worthless as everyone suspected.

I was hoping this saga would end in Humane going bankrupt—not them cashing out. But here we are.

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[–] homesweethomeMrL 1 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

So one of the first and only practical stand-alone products for AI has been sold for scrap.

Cool.

Cool cool cool.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 hour ago

It wasn't standalone though everything still ran on the cloud. At the time the product came out everyone said exactly the same thing, this product is just an interface for a remote AI so why not just use a phone?

Given the fact it had the battery life of a suicidal mayfly and the capacity to heat itself up to 700° I could forgive you for thinking it was running the AI locally

[–] LorIps 16 points 1 day ago

Hewlett-Packard, buying bankrupt startups since 1939.

[–] starchylemming 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

so they are Inhumane now

[–] PunnyName 1 points 1 day ago

It was on the tin. How anyone thought otherwise boggles the mind.

[–] SpaceNoodle 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

How are the employees making out with the deal? An old colleague of mine got suckered into a role there ... lemme check if he already jumped ship

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I have no specific information, but usually when a company is gobbled up like this, the employees get the short end of the stick. Given how nasty Humane was to their own customers, I can't imagine the employees are getting treated well. Really depressing to see such a scummy CEO and company get a payday like this. I can't imagine what HP saw in them.

[–] SpaceNoodle 1 points 1 day ago

They probably had a little decent IP.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

Shitbirds of a feather shit together.

[–] dinckelman 3 points 1 day ago

What a waste of money. I wouldn’t wish it to anymore more deserving, than HP