Last year, former Apple employees Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno launched the Humane AI pin, one of the first AI-powered wearable devices. Unfortunately, the $699 product did not live up to expectations, with many reviews criticizing its poor performance.
Overwhelming Returns and E-Waste
The Humane AI pin has been a struggle for the company. According to reports, more pins were returned than purchased during the period from May to August. This has resulted in only around 7,000 units still in the hands of consumers, out of the initial 10,000 shipped. The total sales of the AI pins amounted to around $9 million, but the company is now dealing with $1 million in returns. The company is unable to refurbish the returned pins due to a technical limitation with the cellular connectivity, leaving them as e-waste.
Safety Concerns and Subscription Offers
Humane also faced issues with the Charge Case for the device, which was found to pose a fire risk. The company sent emails to customers, advising them to stop using the Charge Case Accessory. Although no refunds were provided, customers were given two free months of the Humane subscription service as a gesture of goodwill.
Ambitious Goals, Disappointing Results
Humane had ambitious plans, aiming to sell around 100,000 pins during its first year. However, the poor performance of the device has seemingly sunk this goal. Reports indicate that pre-launch family and friends reviewers had raised concerns about the functionality of the AI Pin, but the product was launched despite the feedback.
A Humane spokesperson acknowledged some “inaccuracies” in the financial data reported, but did not provide specifics. The company remains committed to “unlocking a new era of ambient and contextual computing” and has stated that there have been software updates to address user feedback.
