HP likely to buy Humane AI for 1 billion dollars 

New Delhi,UPDATED: Jun 7, 2024 13:25 IST

Humane, a company founded by former Apple employees Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno, has been making headlines recently. Rumors have been circulating that the company is looking for a buyer for its AI Pin business. According to a report by The New York Times, HP might be a potential contender to purchase Humane. Discussions about a possible sale started around a week after the AI Pin received widely negative reviews. The reported sale price is over $1 billion.This asking price aligns with a previous report from Bloomberg, which mentioned that Humane was seeking a price between $750 million and $1 billion.

The AI Pin, a wearable AI computer priced at $699, failed to impress reviewers. Critics highlighted numerous issues, including the device's performance and overheating problems. In response to these critiques, Humane didn't handle the feedback well. They accused negative reviews of lacking optimism and even sent out warnings to customers about the charging case posing a fire safety risk.

The device's overheating was a significant issue. Reports suggest that Humane executives had to use ice packs to keep the AI Pin cool enough to function properly. This was a clear indication that the product had not been adequately tested before its release. Further compounding these issues, a senior software engineer was reportedly fired in February for questioning the AI Pin's readiness for launch. This dismissal was said to be a violation of Humane's policy against negative internal talk.

Current and former employees have revealed that Chaudhri and Bongiorno ignored warnings about the AI Pin's poor battery life and high power consumption. Instead of addressing these concerns, they prioritised positivity over constructive criticism. This approach did not bode well for the company, which only received around 10,000 orders for the AI Pin by early April. This number is far below their goal of selling 100,000 units within the year.
In an interview with The New York Times, Bongiorno acknowledged the challenges faced by the AI Pin, stating, "You don’t know everything before you launch." Chaudhri also expressed regret, mentioning that they wished they could have handled some issues differently. Despite the setbacks, the company remains hopeful about the future of their product.

Humane's AI Pin has faced significant challenges since its launch, leading the company to consider selling its business to a potential buyer like HP. The negative reviews, overheating issues, and internal conflicts have highlighted the difficulties the company has faced. As Humane navigates these challenges, it will be interesting to see how they adapt and whether they can turn things around. For now, the fate of the AI Pin and its potential sale to HP remains uncertain.