AI Pin Flop: Humane is reportedly seeking a buyer after spending $230 million on failed “smartphone killer”

Humane, the AI startup behind the much-hyped AI Pin, is reportedly seeking a potential buyer, just a month after it launched its wearable device to less-than-glowing reviews, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Despite its rocky debut, Bloomberg reported that Humane is looking for buyers at a valuation between $750 million and $1 billion. The startup was valued at $850 million in its October funding round.

Founded in 2018 by former Apple designers and married couple Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno, Humane generated a lot of buzz when it launched the $699 AI Pin in November 2023. The wearable AI pin, a magnetic device that clips onto clothing, is designed to serve as a smartphone replacement, enabling users to make calls, send texts, and access information using voice commands. It boasts a laser display that transforms the palm into a miniature screen, capable of displaying the time, date, or nearby information.

Humane for Sale After AI Pin Flop

The Humane AI Pin once hailed as a potential “smartphone killer,” has faced a wave of negative reviews since its launch in April. Public feedback has been overwhelmingly critical.

Even influential YouTube gadget reviewer Marques Brownlee described it as “probably the worst product I’ve ever reviewed.” Similarly, TechRadar lambasted the AI Pin, calling it an “undercooked flop.”

Why does this matter? Despite the introduction of wearables like the AI Pin and Rabbit’s r1, none have achieved widespread adoption. With AI increasingly being integrated into devices and the upcoming release of Siri 2.0, smartphones may soon evolve into the only AI devices users truly need.