San Francisco-based tech company, Humane, has launched a wearable AI device, the Ai Pin, which is being touted as a potential replacement for smartphones. The device, priced at $699, requires a $24 monthly subscription and is set to go on sale this week.
The Ai Pin can be activated by voice, gesture, touch, or a small projector display. It can provide information about food, translate languages in real time, and play music. It also has a built-in camera for identifying objects. The device runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor with a dedicated Qualcomm AI Engine and does not need to be paired with a smartphone.
Humane has partnered with Microsoft, OpenAI, Qualcomm, and T-Mobile to deliver this device. Orders are expected to start shipping in early 2024. The device's software framework, the Ai Bus, eliminates the need for apps by connecting users to the required AI service instantly.
However, the Ai Pin has been met with some criticism. Concerns have been raised about the device's accuracy, as AI language models can often sound correct without being so. There are also concerns about the device's security, as it could easily be stolen, and its potential to invade privacy with its camera. The Ai Pin also lacks several features found on a basic smartphone, such as access to email, voice memos, and video recording. The Ai Pin's AI also lacks access to personal data like email, documents, and calendar.
Humane plans to add more features and knowledge sources through direct partnerships and a self-service kit for developers. Despite the criticisms, the Ai Pin is seen as a step towards bringing ambient computing into everyday life, with Microsoft founder Bill Gates recently sharing his view that apps will become obsolete as AI becomes the interface for tasks.