at last, humane AI pin debuts as wearable screenless smartphone that flashes apps on hands

Humane AI pin debuts as smart assistant with voice recognition

Humane has finally unveiled its AI Pin in a global debut on November 9th, 2023. Before the event, a series of snippets took place throughout the year to introduce the pin device, including co-founder Imran Chaudhri’s presentation and its appearance at the Coperni SS24 show in Paris. The wearable device is pinned to clothes using either magnets or a latch, and the cameras and sensors in front of it project app and other smartphone functionalities onto the user’s palm and surfaces. Humane AI Pin employs optical sensors that enable contextual and ambient compute interactions to make sensing-based technology work.

The wearable projector and smartphone also function as a smart assistant using voice recognition. It can give accurate answers and carry out tasks for the user, doubling as a personal assistant. It integrates part of OpenAI’s ChatGPT and other software that enables the wearable AI assistant to reply to questions and do smartphone functions such as making calls, sending texts, and scheduling appointments using only the voice of the user. If privacy is an issue to the user, Humane AI Pin has a feature called ‘Trust Light’ where a light indicator switches on whenever the device’s sensors, microphone, and camera are recording.

images by Humane

Wearable smartphone for clothes that flash apps on hands

Humane AI Pin is a stand-alone device, meaning there is no need to connect the device to another smartphone or projector to make it work. It also heavily relies on gestures which the user needs to learn to utilize the wearable device. For example, the user can ask the device to play a specific album. Then, they can project the program onto the palm of their hands. If they want to skip the song or listen to the previous track, they just need to tilt their hand to the left or right to activate this functionality. If they want to pause or play, they tilt their hand downward and make a ‘pinch’ gesture (the ‘pinch’ gesture is the equivalent of the swipe on smartphones).

The user can not only ask the Humane AI Pin to send a message for them but also to use a certain tone in the way the message is written, be it excitement or nervousness. Before sending the message, the pin reads the text out loud and asks them if they are okay with it. Another feature is Catch Me Up where the wearable device reads through all the activities and reminders that the user has to finish and get done, acting like an assistant. In case the user needs specific information such as the number of the gate of someone’s house or the floor where the party will take place, Humane AI Pin scans for it and immediately informs the user.

Humane AI Pin finally makes its global debut as a wearable screenless smartphone

A reminiscent of Apple’s iPhone design?

Looking at the first batch’s design, the housing is made of (anodized) aluminum, and the available colors are white, silver, and black named Lunar, Equinox, and Eclipse respectively. The device’s head is stretched forward and slightly tilted, which helps the projection land straight onto the palm of the hands or at least be at the eye level of the user. Turning the device around, Humane AI Pin’s steel-like casing might recall Apple’s iPhones with its singular block of aluminum housing and reflective surface.

Both Imran Chaudhri and co-founder Bethany Bongiorno worked for Apple. Chaudhri spent over 20 years at Apple helping create Mac, iPod, iPad, Apple Watch, and iPhone, while Bongiorno led teams as a Director of Software Engineering. The iPhone-reminiscent design inspiration may lend its presence to the Humane AI Pin, including the engraving of the brand’s name behind the smart device. As of publishing the story, Humane AI Pin will start accepting pre-orders starting November 16th at a price of 699 USD.

during its debut, Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno introduce Humane AI Pin via a video on its website