Humanized AI Pin Review: Critics slam $699, screen-less wearable

The verdict on humanizing AI Pins has been released, but the consensus seems to be very lackluster.

The gadget is considered the beginning of a post-smartphone future in which people spend less time staring down at their hands and more attention to the active real world around us. That sounds impressive, but the reality is that this ambition is far from being realized.

Humane’s idea was to create a phone without a screen. There’s no need to scroll, click on the keyboard, or switch apps. Instead, you can command a trustworthy artificial intelligence assistant powered by an operating system called CosmOS.

If you want to make a call, check the weather, or search for the best local pizza place, you can ask for an AI Pin.

A brief explanation of how AI Pin and Cosmos (our AI operating system) work

narrative and illustrations @imranchaudhri pic.twitter.com/gHKVJiwz0q

– Humane (@Humane) April 3, 2024

Just a party trick

This is where things go downhill. Regarding the question of whether you should buy AI Pin, The Verge’s response was harsh.

“No. Uh-huh. By no means. AI Pin is an interesting idea, but it’s not fully finished and is completely broken in so many unacceptable ways that I can’t think of anyone I would recommend spending $699 on. device and a monthly subscription fee of $24.”

The brooch should be worn high on the chest so that it can be reached by both hands. You can quickly tap the touchpad, which also activates the microphone so you can ask the screenless device one of many things.

When you want to read an incoming message, you raise your hand to act as a projector and Pin projects the details onto your hand. Very clever, except that it doesn’t seem to work very well in sunlight.

The Washington Post stated, “When you’re in sunlight, the projector is essentially unreadable. Summer is coming and there are definitely going to be a lot of warm days and I don’t want my phone to get in the way, but Pins aren’t as useful in broad daylight. ”

Wired criticized the results of AI Pin’s microphone and visual features, finding them untrustworthy.

“Unfortunately, there’s not much else to do with it, as it’s missing a lot of features. The human-friendly AI Pin may become an interesting gadget in a year’s time, after a promised software update, but for now it’s just a Party trick.”

On camera, Wired also warned that some people seemed to think the commenter was wearing a camera and had to explain to the bartender what it was. This experience can be tricky depending on the style and behavior of the person asking the question.

Endgadget panned the camera, concluding that the 2012 Nokia E7 took better photos in the dark than the Humane Pin, and that the camera could overheat after too much use, something noted elsewhere.

Some noted that despite the product’s imminent release, the device is still a work-in-progress and far from a finished product.

The Verge gave a succinct review of Humane’s AI Pin.

“Artificial intelligence gadgets may be great one day. But it’s not there yet, and AI Pin is not that product. I’ll get my phone back now, thank you.”

Image Source: Humanity/X