HP is acquiring the Humane platform and team for $116 million.
In a dramatic turn of events, Humane has announced that it is shutting down its ambitious AI Pin project and selling the majority of its assets to HP for a reported $116 million. This move marks the end of the road for Humane’s much-hyped AI-powered wearable, which struggled to gain traction following a series of disappointing reviews and a lackluster market response.
The End of AI Pin: Shutdown Details and Refunds
Humane confirmed in a support document that AI Pins already in circulation will continue to function until 3 PM ET on February 28th, 2025. After this deadline, the devices will no longer be able to connect to Humane’s servers, rendering many of their key features—including calling, messaging, AI-powered responses, and cloud access—completely unusable.
For AI Pin users, this means an urgent call to action: download any stored photos, videos, and notes before the shutdown to avoid permanent data loss. While some offline functions, such as checking battery levels, will remain operational, any feature requiring cloud connectivity will cease to work after the cutoff date.
In terms of financial recourse, Humane is offering refunds under specific conditions. Customers whose AI Pins are within the 90-day return window from their original shipment date are eligible for a refund, with requests required to be submitted by February 27, 2025. Additionally, those who have paid for a Humane subscription beyond the February 28th cutoff will receive prorated refunds for any unused service period.
Moreover, users affected by the charging case recall will automatically receive a refund for the portion of their purchase price allocated to the Charge Case—though this reimbursement will be processed after February 28, 2025.
HP’s Acquisition: What’s Next for Humane’s Technology?
While Humane is stepping away from the AI hardware game, its intellectual property and technical team are being absorbed into HP. The acquisition includes Humane’s proprietary CosmOS operating system, over 300 patents and patent applications, and a substantial portion of its technical staff. HP’s strategy appears to focus on integrating artificial intelligence into its broader ecosystem of devices, including personal computers, printers, and connected conference room technology.
According to a press release, Humane’s team—including its co-founders, Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno—will transition into HP as part of a newly formed division called HP IQ. This division is set to become HP’s AI innovation lab, dedicated to developing intelligent solutions that will shape the “future of work.”
The Rise and Fall of AI Pin: A Cautionary Tale
Humane’s AI Pin had a promising start, generating considerable buzz after an onstage TED demonstration and a polished reveal video. However, early enthusiasm quickly gave way to skepticism, especially after reviewers started testing the device in real-world scenarios.
The backlash was swift and harsh. The Verge’s David Pierce bluntly stated that “it just doesn’t work,” while tech influencer Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) went as far as calling it “the worst product I’ve ever reviewed.” Reports suggested that daily returns of AI Pins were outpacing sales, and by August 2024, Humane had already begun searching for potential buyers. Initially, the company sought a valuation as high as $1 billion, but ultimately settled for a fraction of that—just $116 million from HP.
To salvage its technology, Humane attempted to reposition CosmOS as an adaptable AI operating system for third-party devices. While this pivot showed potential, it ultimately wasn’t enough to keep the company afloat as an independent entity.
Lessons from Humane’s Downfall
Humane’s journey serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing hardware startups—especially those attempting to disrupt established markets with cutting-edge AI technology. The AI Pin’s failure can be attributed to multiple factors, including overhyped marketing, underwhelming real-world performance, high pricing, and limited functionality compared to existing alternatives.
While the AI Pin is now a cautionary footnote in the world of AI wearables, Humane’s core technology will live on under HP’s banner. Whether HP can successfully integrate CosmOS and AI-driven innovation into its products remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the AI Pin experiment has come to an end.
For now, AI Pin users should take immediate action to back up their data before the February 28th shutdown—because after that, this piece of tech history will officially be obsolete.
