Humane —

Humane is envisioning a future where technology seamlessly integrates into daily life, creating trusted AI experiences that prioritize privacy and human connection. By reimagining the interface between people and technology, we are building the foundations for ambient intelligence that understands and adapts to context without compromising individual autonomy.

Our work harnesses advanced AI, multi-modal interaction, and innovative hardware-software integration to develop intelligent platforms that enrich human potential. At the core is CosmOS, a dynamic AI platform designed to enable devices to interact naturally through voice, gesture, and ambient awareness, setting a new paradigm for user engagement.

Driven by an ambitious mission to revolutionize how humans and machines collaborate, Humane is reshaping the future of consumer and enterprise technology. We focus on embedding trustworthy AI into everyday products and ecosystems, empowering partners and users alike to experience technology that listens, learns, and respects personal privacy.

We've been tracking Humane since they emerged from stealth in 2021, and honestly, their story reads like a cautionary tale about the gap between Silicon Valley hype and real-world execution. Founded by former Apple executives with a vision for ambient AI, they raised an impressive $230 million from heavy hitters like Sam Altman and Marc Benioff. The pedigree was there, the funding was massive, and the promise felt genuine.

The AI Pin That Wasn't

Their flagship AI Pin launched in April 2024 as a $699 wearable that promised to be your voice-activated AI companion. The concept was intriguing — a screenless device that could project information, take calls, and handle tasks through gestures and voice commands. But reality hit hard when reviews came in describing laggy performance, poor battery life, and a clunky user experience that felt more like a beta product than a polished consumer device.

By October 2024, they'd slashed the price to $499 and were reportedly shopping the company around. That $24 monthly subscription fee didn't help matters either — it's tough to justify ongoing costs when the core experience isn't delivering.

From Hardware Dreams to Software Reality

What's actually interesting about Humane isn't the AI Pin itself, but their underlying CosmOS platform. This multi-modal AI system that powers ambient computing experiences caught HP's attention enough to acquire most of the company for $116 million in February 2025. The AI Pin hardware business? Discontinued entirely.

HP saw value in Humane's team and their AI software capabilities, which makes sense. The technology behind seamless voice and gesture interactions has real potential — it just needed the right hardware partner and distribution strategy.

What We Take Away

Humane's journey illustrates how even well-funded, experienced teams can stumble on execution while still building valuable technology. Their privacy-first approach to AI and ambient computing concepts were ahead of their time, but the hardware wasn't ready for prime time. Now, with HP's resources and existing product lines, that same AI technology might finally find its proper home in laptops, printers, and enterprise solutions where it can actually shine.