Humane, a company founded by former Apple employees Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno, has just launched its first product. The Ai Pin is a screen-free and standalone device that aims to replace smartphones.
Imran Chaudhri is a designer who created user interface and interaction designs for the iPhone and other Apple products while at Apple from 1995 to 2017, and Bethany Bongiorno is a former director at Apple for iOS & macOS software.
Ai Pin is a small, square device that can be attached to clothing using a magnetic clip. It has a built-in microphone, camera, and a laser projector called “Laser Ink Display” that projects a display on the user’s hand. Ai Pin can be controlled using voice commands, touch, and hand gestures via the Laser Ink Display.
Ai Pin doesn’t have a wake word, meaning it isn’t always listening for a user command. To activate and navigate it, users can press one finger on the touchpad, double-tap the touchpad to take or end a call, or use the Laser Ink Display to interact and navigate through menus.
The device has a built-in rechargeable battery that can be charged using battery boosters. It also has built-in wireless connectivity and cellular functions, and users must purchase a subscription for a new phone number and cell data running on T-Mobile’s network to use Ai Pin.
Pre-orders for Ai Pin will begin on November 16 in the United States, and the device will cost $699. Users will also need to purchase a monthly subscription for $24 to use the Humane cellular network.
Benefits of Ai Pin:
- Reduces screen time
- Helps users focus on the present moment
- More discreet than using a smartphone
Ai Pin is a promising new product that has the potential to reduce screen time and help users focus on the present moment. However, it’s important to note that Ai Pin cannot replace all of the functions of a smartphone, and it is more expensive than some smartphones.
Humane has said that Ai Pin is just the beginning, and that the company is working on other products that will further enhance the user experience.
It will be interesting to see how Ai Pin is received by consumers. If it is successful, it could lead to a new era of screen-free computing.
