At the end of April, the artificial intelligence startup Humane unveiled a wearable device with AI technology at the 2023 TED Conference in Vancouver, Canada. The company’s CEO, Imran Chaudhri, a former Apple designer, took the stage to demonstrate the device. Of course, there was nothing in his hand. However, a wearable device, much smaller than a smartphone, was spotted attached to his left chest.
Much smaller than most smartphones and the size of a small biscuit, the device attracted the audience’s curiosity. Suddenly, a ringing tone began. The source of the sound was Chaudhri. He asked the audience for their understanding and took a call right there on the spot.
But what he pulled out of his pocket was not a smartphone but his palm. He showed the caller information that appeared on his palm to the audience, then began a conversation with his wife and co-founder, Bethany Bongiorno. Chaudhri, who calmly continued the call with a virtual screen on his palm, looked like a scene from a movie.
How is this possible? The secret of the device…
The reason this was possible is because the device attached to his chest was equipped with a laser projector that creates a virtual display. The laser color was green, and it displayed a fairly clear screen, even on a surface as uneven as the palm of a hand.
Not only that but as a wearable device based on AI technology, it also demonstrated several related features. Chaudhri asked the device to recommend a gift for his wife from a travel destination, and the device immediately recommended a popular shopping spot in Vancouver. Thanks to the three cameras installed in the device, it could translate Chaudhri’s words into French in real time and provide them in an AI voice similar to his own.
The company announced that it aimed to release the device within the year. They kept quiet about the details, promising to reveal more information later. But now it’s the end of October, and there are less than 60 days left in the year. So, there’s talk that the product is nearing its release, and related information is also coming out.
$1000… The AI Pin is set to be released on November 9th
On October 27th (local time), The Information reported that the device Humane unveiled last May is set to be released on November 9th under the name ‘AI Pin.’ However, the price is expected to be quite steep. The AI Pin is expected to cost up to $1000 (approximately 1.35 million KRW).
The AI Pin is said to have a camera, microphone, speaker, various sensors, and a laser projector, but it doesn’t have a screen. It’s also expected to be attachable to multiple parts of clothing with a magnet. Humane explained that the AI Pin will provide the speed, connectivity, camera functionality, and security of a conventional smartphone. To achieve this, it plans to use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chip.
The company described this device as a smartphone and a computer and software platform that can be used according to the situation. As Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, is a major shareholder of Humane, he is expected to get some help regarding AI functionality. On the 24th, the company explained that the AI Pin will use AI technology that combines the company’s software with OpenAI’s GPT.
Humane’s AI Pin, beyond smartphones… Can it usher in a new era?
Humane hopes to change the paradigm of consumer computing. Of course, there are skeptical views on this. It’s less practical to talk to your chest with your voice than to quietly touch and type on a smartphone screen. Speaking out loud increases the likelihood of personal conversations leaking out.
Regardless of practicality, Humane has presented a future where we don’t have to carry smartphones. Whether this future takes hold in reality is another story. Will the public welcome Humane’s device? We’ll have to wait and see the reaction to the product released on November 9th.
By. Kim Tae Woo
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