If it were up to Humane, there would be no smartphonesin the future. Instead, a small device the size of a matchbox and hanging from clothes would give the user all the information they need at any given time, aided by artificial intelligence tools and various sensors. A true personal assistant capable of seeing, speaking and understanding what is carried, in a somewhat forced symbolism, very close to the heart.
The first version of this sci-fi device goes on sale next week in the US It's known as the AI Pin and is an electronic clasp that hangs from your blouse or jacket. It has a camera, microphones, and a speaker that can create a "bubble" of sound for the wearer.
Instead of a screen, the device uses voice and gestures as forms of control and can also project information into the palm of the hand, such as messages, music playback controls or the time, thanks to a small built-in laser projector.
The pin is not an accessory. It has its own connection to the network and is completely self-contained. It costs about €650 at the exchange rate and requires a monthly subscription of €22 that includes mobile data traffic and cloud storage space for the photos and videos you can take with the 13-megapixel camera. While recording or listening, the pin displays a small warning light, to prevent it from being used for spying.
It doesn't have apps. Instead, an artificial intelligence interacts with the user, looking for the information they need on the network or in the history of messages and conversations, to help in all kinds of scenarios. For example, the brooch is able to identify a plate of food, roughly calculate the nutritional information and record it in the total food that has been consumed throughout the day.
It can also create messages and emails that sound like it was written by the user thanks to the fact that behind its operating system, Cosmos, there is a language model similar to the one used by ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence conversations.
Humane assures that the brooch has autonomy for a whole day of use, but it is a half-truth. The main battery is in the part of the anchor that goes inside the clothes and is changed several times a day. A second battery in the device keeps it active during the process of changing this component.
The company is one of the Silicon Valley startups that has generated the most buzz in recent years. Founded by Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno, a married couple with a long history within Apple, it has managed to attract many of the engineers and designers who have participated in the creation of such iconic products as the iPhone or the latest Macs. It has also piqued the interest of many of the area's investment funds, always on the lookout for the next big market disruption.
Although Ai Pin goes on sale next week, the first units won't reach buyers until early 2024.