Humane shuts down Ai Pin business as HP buys the company, devices will be bricked

Humane's Ai Pin business closes as HP buys company, bricking devices on Feb 28 with limited refunds.

: Humane's Ai Pin business is shutting down as HP buys the company for $116 million. The Ai Pins will be rendered unusable on February 28, with only recent buyers eligible for refunds. HP does not include the Ai Pin segment in its acquisition, focusing instead on Humane's CosmOS and patent portfolio. The Ai Pin faced criticism for its high cost and was recalled due to a charging case risk.

Humane is closing its Ai Pin business following its acquisition by HP for $116 million. The buyout includes the CosmOS platform and over 300 patents, but not the Ai Pin segment. Consequently, the devices will become inoperable on February 28 at 12 pm PST as they lose connectivity to Humane's servers, making core functionalities like calls and AI queries impossible.

Refund eligibility is limited to Ai Pins purchased within 90 days before the shutdown, specifically those bought after November 15, 2024. Prorated refunds will be provided to subscribers with active plans beyond February 28. This decision follows issues including a recall of the Ai Pin charging case over fire risks and poor product reception.

The Ai Pin, initially hyped to replace smartphones, faced negative reviews due to its $700 price and a $24 subscription. Critic Marques Brownlee labeled it as one of the worst products he's reviewed. Prior to the shutdown, Humane unsuccessfully attempted to sell for $1 billion, significantly more than what HP paid, amid more returns than sales.

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