There’s a lot of hype around the “next generation” of consumer technology, with companies like Apple and Google working hard to put screens on our faces. But a Silicon Valley startup with a very different idea has raised significant money and is poised to release its first product.
Humane, a startup founded by ex-Apple execs, has kept its work under wraps since it launched in 2018. Still, it’s now revealing that the gadget it’s developing is screenless, projected display devices that will help people perform tasks without looking at their phones or tablets.
In a video posted to YouTube on Friday, Humane co-founder and President Imran Chaudhri gave a demo of the device designed to clip onto clothing. The device, which he calls the Ai Pin, looks like a small Star Trek-like communicator that can project images and text or respond to voice commands. Chaudhri demonstrates that it can be used to answer phone calls, read out email and calendar invites, translate text, offer a summary of current weather conditions, and take notes on an event agenda.
Chaudhri says the Ai Pin can also be paired with external cameras to capture and transmit images. He says the Ai Pin is powered by an unnamed chip from Qualcomm (QCOM.O) and that the company will have more details later this year about when the device is ready to be sold.
It’s unclear whether the Ai Pin will be the first device Humane launches, but the company said in a news release that it had signed a partnership with Qualcomm to use its chips in future devices. Humane’s investors include Salesforce Chief Executive Marc Benioff, Kindred Ventures, SK Networks, LG Technology Ventures, and Volvo Cars Tech Fund. Investors such as Y Combinator’s Sam Altman are also involved, and the company has filed several patents on its technology.
Humane isn’t giving a release date or many other details for the Ai Pin, which it said on Friday will be called a “screenless personal assistant.” But the company has plenty of experience in building consumer products, and its team includes dozens of decorated ex-Apple designers and engineers responsible for the iPhone touchscreen keyboard and elements of Apple’s industrial design.
The Ai Pin is the latest example of a new wave of wearables trying to make users more productive and connected while reducing their reliance on a smartphone’s display. It joins a host of other new smartwatches and fitness trackers that have recently been released, with some even adding virtual reality capabilities. While the industry is excited about these new technologies, there are many doubts about whether they’ll be successful. The recent hardware failures of Essential and Magic Leap have added to those concerns. Still, Humane is making a good impression on investors by managing expectations well. And with significant investments and partnerships, the Ai Pin could have a shot at delivering on its promises.
