Tech startup Humane announced on Tuesday that HP has acquired most of its assets for $116 million. As part of the acquisition, Humane is immediately discontinuing sales of its $499 AI Pin, a wearable device that was intended to function as a smartphone replacement.
Customers who have already purchased the AI Pin have been notified that their devices will cease functioning at 12 p.m. PST on February 28, 2025. After this deadline, the AI Pins will no longer connect to Humane’s servers, making them incapable of calling, messaging, AI queries, or accessing the cloud. Humane has advised AI Pin owners to transfer their important photos and data to an external device as soon as possible.
In addition, Humane will dissolve its customer support team for the AI Pin on February 28. Customers who purchased the device in the last 90 days are eligible for a refund, according to an FAQ, but those who bought it earlier are not.
Humane, founded by former Apple executives Bethany Bongiorno and Imran Chaudhri, made headlines in April 2024 with the launch of its AI Pin, raising more than $230 million to develop the product. However, the device struggled to gain traction.
Reports indicated that AI Pin returns had outpaced sales by last summer, and further setbacks included safety concerns over its charging case, which the company warned users to stop using due to battery fire risks. In October, Humane cut the AI Pin’s price from $699 to $499 in an effort to boost sales.
Under the acquisition agreement, HP will integrate Humane’s engineers and product managers into a new division called HP IQ, which will focus on AI-driven innovation across HP’s product ecosystem.
HP is also acquiring Humane’s CosmOS AI operating system, which was recently showcased as a potential interface for various devices, including smart speakers, TVs, and Android phones. HP may leverage this technology to enhance its personal computers and printers with AI capabilities.
According to Bloomberg, Humane had previously sought an acquisition deal in May 2024 valued between $750 million and $1 billion, but ultimately settled for a significantly lower price with HP.
