Humane, a San Francisco startup founded by former Apple designers Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno, unveiled the Ai Pin on Thursday. Priced at $699, the wearable device attaches to the user's lapel and is designed as a smartphone alternative—even though it doesn't have a screen.
The artificial intelligence device offers an array of phone features, including making calls, sending texts and accessing information through voice controls. With its laser display, it can project information like time and date onto the user's palm. The Ai Pin has a built-in speaker and camera, and after double tapping on the device to take a photo or video you can view them on Humane's web app. The device can translate spoken English and Spanish conversations.
"There are no wake words, so it's not always listening or always recording," Chaudhri said in Humane's launch video, emphasizing users' required engagement "through your voice, touch, gesture or the laser ink display." The Pin's "Trust Light" illuminates when sensors are active.
Humane's collaboration with companies like Microsoft and OpenAI "gives the AI Pin access to some of the world's most powerful AI models and platforms," reads Humane's launch statement. CEO of Open AI, Sam Altman, praised the collaboration, "We believe in a future where artificial intelligence amplifies human potential. We're proud to partner with Humane to harness AI and redefine how we interact with technology—and the world."
The Ai Pin made its global debut earlier this year at Paris Fashion Week when pinned to model Noami Campell while she paraded down the catwalk. "Ai Pin is the embodiment of our vision to integrate AI into the fabric of daily life," Humane's co-founders, Chaudhri and Bongiorno said.
The Ai Pin is available for order starting November 16 and comes in three colors: eclipse (black), equinox (black and white), and lunar (white). The two-piece design features a "main computer and a battery booster" that are magnetically connected and can be powered through clothing.
In addition to the initial $699, the Ai Pin requires a $24 monthly data subscription to T-Mobile. The subscription includes a cell phone number, unlimited talk, text, and data.
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