When Humane revealed the Ai Pin wearable on Thursday night, we already knew everything about it. The Ai Pin's specifications, features and price were leaked hours before the official announcement. Still, it lacked context and we needed to see exactly how Humane launched the device and whether the US$699 price tag was worth it.
Adverts
After seeing Humane's vision of the screenless AI-powered smartphone future, I can safely say that I will never replace my iPhone with something like the Ai Pin. Never, ever, not in a thousand lifetimes. Not in this form.
The biggest problem with the device is the lack of screen, which will make everything difficult. Humane's desire to eliminate screenings is noble, don't get me wrong. And I would love to reduce my iPhone screen time with the help of AI. But we are not yet in a place where that can happen.
Adverts
That said, I immediately thought of a usage scenario for the Humane Ai Pin where I would have no problem trusting an AI gadget instead of taking my iPhone out of my pocket. For me, these are running and walking sessions, but they can combine well with outdoor physical activities.
I've already shared how I use ChatGPT to improve my running, from choosing better equipment to creating a training plan to run a half marathon. And it worked. I'm running faster than ever and have completed an official race, run two additional half marathons, and run and walked several hundred miles this year. I don't intend to stop anytime soon.
Additionally, I use my Apple Watch to track my performance, but I always take my iPhone with me. By now, you should have seen where I'm going with this. I'd rather clip something like the Ai Pin to my clothes when running and walking and leave my smartphone at home.
The reason I carry the device has to do with communication. I didn't buy a cellular Apple Watch, so I need to be able to answer calls if necessary. I could upgrade the Apple Watch and leave the iPhone at home. Considering the price of Ai Pin, this is the best option.
But then Humane also demonstrated some cool features for the Ai Pin that the Apple Watch can't offer. The Pin can take hands-free photos and videos, something I could have used during my half marathon. I could take photos more often and even record entire running sessions.
Because running and walking take a lot of time, I can go out at odd times of the day. With winter coming and the days getting shorter, this also means running well after dark. And while it's generally safe around me, Ai Pin can help with my peace of mind. After all, accidents happen and I would need to ask for help.
Not only that, but again, Ai Pin allows you to record videos and take photos quickly. It could be a useful body camera that I hope I never have to use.
Maybe I have ideas that I want to remember while training, and Ai Pin can help me save those notes easily. I would just have to talk to the AI or touch it to get started. The AI could also answer questions I might have and would automatically translate foreign languages. Also, I think AI could help if I got lost. It could be faster than loading Google Maps on the iPhone.
The Humane wearable can also help with entertainment. I often listen to music, a podcast, or even a Netflix documentary while I run and walk. I usually select them before leaving the house. But with Ai Pin, I could do it right away. Too bad Humane doesn't make apps. This means that Ai Pin doesn't work with all the services I would subscribe to.
I would also take advantage of AI's ability to recognize foods and drinks and calculate calorie intake. When running longer distances, I carry water and gels. When walking, I stop to eat. An AI that sees the food I eat could be useful, helping me make the process more efficient. This would be especially good during official races.
Finally, I can't help but wonder if an AI like the one that powers Ai Pin could actually help monitor my progress. There could be AI models that would take into account the data coming from Ai Pin to give me instant statistics about my run. The AI could compare what I'm doing to previous runs and perhaps point out problems with the way I'm running.
At the very least, AI could track chosen routes and map them within map apps.
I'll also point out that Humane's commitment to strong user privacy is a great feature of Ai Pin. I would be more willing to collect all this data about myself during my runs, knowing that the data won't be fed to the AI or sold to third parties for ads.
Unfortunately, most of what I've described above will ultimately require viewing. I would need a screen to analyze the data that Ai Pin collects. I would need to load an application on a smartphone or a website to view photos, videos, notes, calories and other health statistics that AI can help me collect. And I can only do that when I return home.
All this is worth $ 699 It is a separate phone encryption from US$ 24/month? Unfortunately, I don't think so. Not to mention that the Ai Pin is not available in Europe and, from the looks of it, won't be arriving anytime soon. A better bet would be to get a first-generation Apple Watch Ultra and wait for Apple's AI to advance.
—————-
When revealing the Ai Pin wearable on Thursday night, Humane had already leaked the device's specs, features and price hours before the official announcement. Despite this, context was still lacking and we needed to see exactly how Humane launched the device and whether the price of US$ 699 would be worth it.
After seeing Humane's vision of the screenless AI-powered smartphone future, I can safely say that I will never replace my iPhone with something like the Ai Pin. The biggest problem with the device is the lack of screen, which will make everything difficult.
Despite this, I considered a usage scenario for the Humane Ai Pin where I would have no problem trusting an AI gadget instead of taking my iPhone out of my pocket, especially during outdoor physical activities like running and hiking.
Humane's Ai Pin comes with a laser projector and has unique features such as the ability to take hands-free photos and videos, as well as supporting touch and voice gestures. It can also be useful when running or walking at night, providing an extra sense of security.
Additionally, Ai Pin can help with entertainment and even monitor progress during physical activities. However, the lack of apps and the need for a screen to analyze collected data can limit its usefulness.
Considering the price and limited availability, it may be more advantageous to wait for advances in technology for similar devices.
