The Humane AI Pin review roundup: not even close

For $699 and $24 a month, this wearable computer promises to free you from your smartphone. Is not fulfill yet.

Imagine a phone without a screen – that's the core idea behind the Humane AI Pin. Instead of tapping and swiping on endless apps, this wearable computer relies on voice commands and AI to handle everything. Need to call a friend, send a text, or check the weather? Just ask the AI Pin. It stays connected through a cellular network (only T-Mobile for now) and uses its built-in AI smarts to answer questions and complete tasks.

Humane envisions the AI Pin as the gateway to a future where we ditch our phones and reclaim control of our time. They believe we spend too much time glued to screens, missing out on real-world experiences. This raises some interesting questions: can the AI Pin truly replace our phones? Is a screen-less future even desirable? These are crucial topics for pondering the future of technology and our relationship with it.

what is the humane ai pin

Intrigued by the concept, I embarked on a two-week test of the AI Pin with two main questions in mind:

1. Is the AI Pin a Viable Alternative? Let's face it, smartphones can be attention traps. A quick check for the time or a grocery list update can easily morph into a 20-minute social media scroll. Plus, how often are our hands occupied (think groceries, kids, or even driving!) and using a phone becomes a juggling act? There are certainly tasks we do on phones that could be done differently, and the AI Pin promises a hands-free, screen-free solution. My experience revealed potential – a glimpse of what AI-powered assistants might become in the future.

2. Should You Buy One Now? This one's a straightforward answer: No. While the AI Pin boasts a fascinating idea, it's riddled with bugs and unfinished functionalities. At a hefty $699 for the device and $24 monthly for service, I can't recommend it to anyone, especially in its current state.

The developers are aware of the limitations and acknowledge the AI Pin as the "first page" of a larger vision. They plan on software updates, new features, and partnerships to refine the technology over time. Their dream is for the AI Pin's underlying AI system, "Cosmos," to become a versatile platform across various devices.

While AI advancements hold immense promise for streamlining our digital tasks, the current iteration of the AI Pin simply falls short. It struggles with too many basic functions, offering inconsistency in performance even for tasks it should handle well. Neither the hardware, software, nor the underlying AI technology (including advancements like GPT-4) seem mature enough for a seamless user experience.

Pros:

Well-made and feels durable
Captures decent photos
Hands-free design allows for easier use compared to phones (especially when multitasking)

Cons:

Frequent errors and unreliable performance
Slow response times, impacting user experience
Missing way too many basic things

Front and center:

Don't let the name fool you – the AI Pin is actually quite compact! It's smaller than you might expect, measuring roughly the size of four quarters stacked together or half the size of a standard pack of gum. Despite its compact size, the AI Pin feels reassuringly substantial. Crafted from aluminum, it weighs in at just 55 grams (about two AA batteries or your car key fob). This material choice, combined with its design, suggests durability and the ability to withstand everyday bumps and nicks – or even an accidental laundry adventure in your washing machine! The AI Pin comes in both classic white and sleek black, offering a more polished look compared to some first-generation tech wearables.

The AI Pin's ideal placement, as showcased in Humane's demos and marketing materials, is right below your collarbone on either chest side. It attaches magnetically, acting as a "battery booster" in the process. Think of it as a lapel pin for the tech age. While the magnet holds well on most clothing (except very thick fabrics), attaching it initially can be a bit fiddly.

The good news: you have options! You can hold the AI Pin in your hand or speak to it while it rests in its desk charger. However, the microphones are optimized for picking up your voice from the chest position, the camera captures a better view from that angle, and the speakers project sound more effectively there.

Now, let's address the elephant in the room (or, more accurately, the AI Pin on your chest). It's not exactly subtle. People will likely notice you tapping your chest and talking to yourself, especially if you're facing a building. It also faces practical challenges – backpack straps rub against it, messenger bags cover it, and even playful encounters with your kids or pets can trigger it unintentionally.

Here's a possible solution: the $50 clip accessory allows you to attach the AI Pin to your waistband or bag strap, which might be a more convenient location for daily use. from Wired

AI Pin: Chest Placement Perks and Functionality Frustrations

There's a benefit to the chest placement – easy reachability! You can use either hand ("The Pledge of Allegiance" or "The Backpack Strap Grab" as I call them) and even a quick press with your pinky finger wakes it up. To activate the AI Pin, simply press and hold the front touchpad (no wake word needed) and ask your questions or give commands.

The AI Pin offers a range of functionalities – answering basic questions like ChatGPT, making calls, taking pictures, sending texts, finding nearby locations, and more. It even has some handy touch controls like double-tapping with two fingers for photos and holding the double-tap for videos.

Convenience with Caveats

Having the AI Pin readily accessible did encourage me to use it more, sometimes even for tasks I wouldn't bother pulling out my phone for. It reminded me of the early days of voice assistants like Alexa and Siri, where simple voice commands felt like a huge leap forward. For example, setting a 10-minute timer with your voice beats opening the clock app, especially if your hands are full.

But wait, there's a catch...

Unfortunately, the AI Pin can't set alarms or timers, nor can it manage your calendar appointments. While you can create notes and lists (accessible through the Humane Center web app where you connect contacts and view photos), attempting to add items later often fails for unknown reasons. This limited functionality is a recurring problem with many voice assistants, and the AI Pin suffers even more in comparison.

Future Promises, Present Limitations

Humane acknowledges they're working on expanding functionalities, and improvements are likely with advancements in AI models and interfaces. They even mention a significant software update coming this summer that promises timers, calendar access, and more touchpad features. However, at The Verge, we review the product in hand, not future promises. With a hefty price tag, the lack of these basic functionalities is simply unacceptable.

Frustratingly Slow and Unreliable

Furthermore, the AI Pin relies on Humane's servers to process every query, leading to slowdowns and outright failures. A simple request like reminding you about the library book sale next week can turn into a 10-second wait followed by a generic error message – not exactly convenient. In terms of calls, I experienced failed connections roughly half the time, with incoming calls often diverted straight to voicemail without even ringing. After extensive testing, the only truly reliable function of the AI Pin seems to be telling the time.

The one and only thing I can truly rely on the AI Pin to do is tell me the time:

Overheating and Underwhelming Battery Life: Can the AI Pin Keep Up?

The more I used the AI Pin, the more I felt a mismatch between its ambitions and its hardware limitations. Here's what I experienced:

· Constant Warmth: The AI Pin tends to run warm, not quite scorching but definitely noticeable. According to Bethany Bongiorno, co-founder of Humane, this heat can arise from overuse or weak signal, with the device shutting down automatically in extreme cases. In my testing, exceeding just a few minutes of use often triggered overheat warnings and shutdowns. This happened frequently, even in moderate spring weather (DC) and cool environments (40°F NYC).

· Battery Blues: Get ready to embrace all the chargers – the AI Pin comes with two battery boosters, a charging case, and a desk charger. Even with this arsenal, battery life remains a concern. During intensive testing, both boosters and the internal battery depleted within a few hours. On one occasion, a fully charged AI Pin with a booster went completely dead within five hours, while simply sitting untouched in my backpack. The sheer processing power required seems to overwhelm the battery capacity.

Here's the Catch:

In fairness, the AI Pin isn't designed for constant use. The ideal scenario is for quick interactions – ask a question, send a text, and get back to enjoying your surroundings. On low-usage days (a handful of calls, texts, basic queries, and some music), overheating wasn't a major issue, though the battery still struggled to last a full day. Using the projector extensively also drains the battery faster.

The Bottom Line:

At this price point, with such prominent placement on your body, the AI Pin needs to offer more than basic functionality and "muddling through." The constant warmth and underwhelming battery life raise serious concerns about its long-term viability.

Projecting Information: A Gimmick or a Useful Feature?

The AI Pin's unique feature is its "Laser Ink" projector, activated by a single touchpad tap or saying "show me" followed by your request. If the AI Pin is speaking information aloud, you can raise your hand to switch to a projected display. This projector handles tasks like accessing settings, unlocking the device, and more.

Here's the Catch:

There's a crucial limitation – the projector only works on your hand, not walls or other surfaces. So, forget about James Bond-style projected messages on buildings.

After some practice, I found the ideal projection spot: around ribcage height with a slight distance from your body. While the resolution is a low 720p and the light is green, it does a decent job of displaying text in moderate lighting. However, forget about using it in bright sunlight – the text becomes barely visible.

some problems

Forget the Tiny Trombone: Frustrating Gestures Hinder the AI Pin

The AI Pin's projector unlocks a unique way to interact with information, but the interface itself is, well, clunky. Here's why:

· Unlocking Shenanigans: Every time you reattach the AI Pin magnetically, you need to unlock it. This involves a series of hand movements best described as playing a tiny, imaginary trombone – move your hand forward and backward through numbers, then pinch to select. Not exactly intuitive.

· Limited Homescreen: The "homescreen" displays recent texts or calls and offers basic info like time, date, and weather. Scrolling involves tilting your hand ever so slightly, which felt imprecise.

· Confusing Menus: Accessing settings requires moving your hand away from your body (but not too far!) to reveal a radial menu. Here, navigation involves rolling your hand like you're holding a marble – and good luck getting it right on the first try. It's simply too many gestures to remember, especially when they're unreliable.

The Bottom Line:

It feels like Humane was determined to avoid a screen at all costs, resorting to awkward gestures when a simple touchscreen could have handled everything more efficiently. While innovation is admirable, ditching a perfectly good interaction method (a touchscreen) for a less user-friendly one (gestures) creates a frustrating experience. If you want phone-like functionality, a phone might be the better choice.

Lost in Translation: AI Pin's Language Woes and the Challenge of Invisible Tech

The AI Pin boasts impressive features like automatic language translation, adapting to your location (switching to Spanish in Spain, for example). Sounds futuristic, right? Here's where things get frustrating:

· Translation Troubles: Despite the hype, I spent a whole hour battling the AI Pin to translate to Japanese or Korean for our colleague Victoria, a fluent speaker. Victoria spoke directly to the AI Pin, but instead of translating, it simply parroted back her words in a questionable (and sometimes mocking) accent.

· The AI Black Box: This translation issue highlights a broader problem with the AI Pin, ChatGPT, and many AI products – their lack of transparency. We can't see how the AI works, making it difficult to understand how to interact with it effectively.

Beyond the Hype: User-Friendly Tech Matters

Proponents of AI argue that users shouldn't need to understand the inner workings of the technology – it should simply work. However, this doesn't align with how we interact with most technology today. Our phones, for example, offer visual cues – colored buttons, immediate responses to touch gestures – that provide clear feedback and guidance.

With AI assistants like the AI Pin, there's no such feedback loop. It's like wishing on a star – you blindly hope for the best, often with disappointing results.

The AI Pin: A Frustrating Glimpse of the Future (But Not Quite There Yet)

Despite the challenges, the AI Pin sparked a surprising realization: there's a genuine appeal to its core concept. Imagine a world where one-tap actions rule – sending a quick text, setting a reminder, or snapping a photo for your shopping list – all without pulling out your phone. It would be a game-changer, eliminating the distraction and friction of constant phone use.

Here's the truth, though: the AI Pin simply doesn't deliver on that promise. It falls short in functionality and reliability. After hours of testing, questions often went unanswered, leaving me tapping my chest and whispering in vain.

A Wish List for a Better AI Assistant

Despite the disappointment, I can't help but root for Humane's vision. Here's what I hope to see in the future:

Focus on the Basics: Refine core functionalities like one-tap actions and reminders, making them work seamlessly without draining the battery.
Improved Speed and Reliability: Faster processing and more reliable performance are crucial for a smooth user experience.
Form Factor Flexibility: Consider a watch or smart glasses design for a more natural interaction than the chest placement.
Expanded Integrations: Partnerships with music services, productivity apps, and knowledge bases would greatly enhance the AI Pin's capabilities.
Reasonable Price Point: A significant price reduction is essential to make the technology more accessible.

The conclusion: Beta Test, Not Ready for Prime Time

The AI Pin feels like a beta test, a prototype with potential, but not a finished product. It's a reminder that while AI gadgets have a promising future, we're not quite there yet. The AI Pin fails to justify its hefty price tag or the user effort it demands. It's an intriguing idea, but ultimately, a frustrating experience.

For now, I'll gladly return to my phone. But the future of AI assistants remains exciting, and hopefully, the next iteration will deliver on the promise glimpsed by the AI Pin.