Finally, the post-smartphone future is here. Or, is it?
Humane, a five-year-old artificial intelligence startup founded by two former Apple designers, on Thursday launched an AI-driven product its founders hope will replace smartphones.
Husband and wife co-founders Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno introduced the AI Pin communicator, a screen-less device that allows users to make calls, send texts, take photos and look up information using voice controls and gestures.
In place of screen, the device uses a laser projector to display text on a user’s palm. A subscription plan comes with a phone number, but the device does not need to be paired with a phone.
The pin, magnetically attached to clothing, comes with a battery booster and runs on a Snapdragon processor, a Qualcomm chipset. Qualcomm Ventures is one of investors in Humane.
A built-in camera takes 13-megapixel photos and will capture video as well after a software update. A photo or video can be viewed on Humane’s web app.
How things work
The pin allows users to access AI services from the internet, rather than downloaded apps. Microsoft, Google, OpenAI, and other companies are contributing AI services, the company said. It can translate spoken conversations from Spanish to English and vice versa in real time.
“There are no wake words so it’s not always listening or always recording,” Chaudhri said at the beginning of a 10-minute launch video on the company’s website. “In fact, it doesn’t do anything until you engage with it, and your engagement comes through your voice, touch, gesture or the laser ink display.”
How much does it cost?
Each pin sells at $699 (about N769,000).
In addition, customers will have to pay a $24 monthly data subscription to T-Mobile, the company said. It will come with unlimited data and phone calls.
Humane said it will start taking orders on November 16 and the device will start shipping early next year.
Learn more about Humane
In March, Humane announced a $100 million financing round from Microsoft, LG’s venture arm and Tiger Global. The company has raised $230 million in all, with contributions from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff.
Chaudhri spent 20 years at Apple, and led the design of the iPhone’s home screen. Bongiorno was a software development leader for products including the iPhone, iPad and later the Mac, and was part of the founding iPad team.
The duo also recruited other former Apple employees to the team, including the chief technology officer, Patrick Gates, who was previously a senior director of engineering at the Cupertino, California, company.
“Ai Pin is the embodiment of our vision to integrate AI into the fabric of daily life, enhancing our capabilities without overshadowing our humanity,” they said in a statement.
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