Take a look at the item above as I tell you what it is and does. It's Humane's Ai Pin, a US$ 699 AI device that you should wear on your clothes. It looks like a tiny iPhone or a larger Apple Watch when you look at it from the front. A profile view will show that this thing has sort of an eyebrow on top, where the camera and sensors go. It is very easy to understand the concept after seeing and hearing about it.
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Now, imagine that I'm just describing the Ai Pin, rather than showing it as I speak. Imagine I tell you all about it. Pin needs a constant internet connection to function as a non-smartphone and to support unlimited AI queries. All for US$ 24/month, plus US$ 699. And it has hot-swappable batteries that work like magnets, keeping it in place on clothes.
You would still understand the concept pretty well, but it wouldn't be the same experience as watching it while hearing about its features.
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Now apply the second experience to the type of AI computing that Humane proposes for Ai Pin. That's right, you wouldn't have the visual experience that comes with using your smartphone. The AI in Ai Pin can be incredibly intelligent and able to answer questions and perform tasks for you. But it's not enough.
We need screens on our computers
We are visual beings by design. As annoying as screen time is, we can't kill smartphones with devices like Ai Pin. And that's why I think the Humane wearable will fail. However, the Ai Pin needs one more thing to become a great product in these early days of AI hardware.
Smart AR glasses (augmented reality) that, in conjunction with AI Pin, would offer this visual experience. Add this accessory and you could end up with a “killer” iPhone device. And the company that could deliver such a gadget could be Apple.
As a fan of ChatGPT, I've been interested in Humane Ai Pin since the first teasers at the beginning of this year. I had a lot of questions about it, especially about the screen-free experience. It turns out that this is a somewhat hypocritical stance by Humane.
Ai Pin has a projectable screen that you can use for certain AI experiments. Additionally, you must configure Ai Pin using a different device. A computer with a screen. Now this is how you set up iPhone or Android devices.
Finally, all the content that Ai Pin allows you to record is only available on the same digital platform. You can't view photos and videos as soon as you take them. Or inspect the notes. Unless you take a break from what you're doing to load Humane's Ai Pin app on your phone or computer. That would defeat the whole purpose of using AI on you.
AR Glasses for the Ai Pin
But add AR glasses to the mix and Pin can project a real screen before your eyes. With a screen, you would be able to better handle notifications, read emails and other texts, use navigation apps, and view all photos taken with the device. It could all be a great experience. Such a device would really help reduce screen time. And it could replace the smartphone.
Again, the Ai Pin is practically a smartphone – without screens and apps.
I said before that Apple should buy Humane for AI technology. This would be an ironic twist for Humane's co-founders, who are former Apple employees. I don't think that anymore.
The AI platform Humane created is not unique. Features like those developed by Humane will soon reach all smartphones. Devices like the Galaxy S24 and iPhone 16 are expected to come with built-in AI features that can provide an Ai Pin-like experience. Then there's Google building generative AI features into Assistant for Pixel phones.
Of course, you won't use a camera, but you will use your phone's cameras a lot. And you will always see what you are interacting with.
How Apple will 'kill' its own iPhone
Rumor has it that Apple is working on AR glasses that could replace the iPhone. However, significant innovations are needed to make this independent device happen. The gadget must feature state-of-the-art screens and sound, enormous processing power and a battery that can last all day. All of this must be packaged in prescription-like glasses.
But what if you remove all processing from AR glasses to the iPhone? What if your first experience with AR glasses involves a device like an iPhone doing the heavy lifting in your pocket or bag and then projecting it all onto the AR glasses you're wearing?
Imagine a smaller iPhone, perhaps a little bigger than the AI Pin, but smaller than the iPhone mini. You will hardly need to use your screen as you will always rely on your glasses for visual experiences. Over time, this portable iPhone could shrink to the size of an Ai Pin. Maybe one that doesn't even have a screen. Years later, it would disappear when Apple finally put all the technology inside the same glasses.
That's why Vision Pro, seen above, is so important. It's a precursor to the AR glasses of the future that Apple can't build right now.
With all this in mind, I don't think we are in a place where Ai Pin can be commercially successful. Or that Humane can make money from it. I wouldn't buy a standalone smartphone that wasn't a smartphone, like the Ai Pin from Apple, Google, or any other phone maker. No matter how cool AI features are, they need a visual experience.
By the way, it turns out that Ai Pin also makes AI mistakes, some of which appear in the official promotional video. I don't expect Humane to provide a hallucination-free experience. It could take years for this to happen. But we will need screens on AI devices to double-check AI information as long as we cannot fully trust it.
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Take a look at the item above as I tell you what it is and does. It's Humane's Ai Pin, a US$ 699 AI device that you should wear on your clothes. It looks like a tiny iPhone or a larger Apple Watch when you look at it from the front. A profile view will show that this thing has sort of an eyebrow on top, where the camera and sensors go. It is very easy to understand the concept after seeing and hearing about it. Technology. Entertainment. Science. Your inbox. Sign up to receive the most interesting technology and entertainment news. By signing up, I agree to the Terms of Use and have read the Privacy Notice. Now, imagine that I'm just describing the Ai Pin, rather than showing it as I speak. Imagine I tell you all about it. Pin needs a constant internet connection to function as a non-smartphone and to support unlimited AI queries. All for US$ 24/month, plus US$ 699. And it has hot-swappable batteries that work like magnets, keeping it in place on clothes. You would still understand the concept pretty well, but it wouldn't be the same experience as watching it while hearing about its features. Now apply the second experience to the type of AI computing that Humane proposes for Ai Pin. That's right, you wouldn't have the visual experience that comes with using your smartphone. The AI in Ai Pin can be incredibly intelligent and able to answer questions and perform tasks for you. But it's not enough. We need screens on our computers We are visual beings by design. As annoying as screen time is, we can't kill smartphones with devices like Ai Pin. And that's why I think the Humane wearable will fail. However, the Ai Pin needs one more thing to become a great product in these early days of AI hardware. Smart AR glasses (augmented reality) that, in conjunction with AI Pin, would offer this visual experience. Add this accessory and you could end up with a “killer” iPhone device. And the company that could deliver such a gadget could be Apple. As a fan of ChatGPT, I've been interested in Humane Ai Pin since the first teasers at the beginning of this year. I had a lot of questions about it, especially about the screen-free experience. It turns out that this is a somewhat hypocritical stance by Humane. Humane Ai Pin comes with a laser projector. Image Source: Human Ai Pin has a projectable screen that you can use for certain AI experiments. Additionally, you must configure Ai Pin using a different device. A computer with a screen. Now this is how you set up iPhone or Android devices. Finally, all the content that Ai Pin allows you to record is only available on the same digital platform. You can't view photos and videos as soon as you take them. Or inspect the notes. Unless you take a break from what you're doing to load Humane's Ai Pin app on your phone or computer. That would defeat the whole purpose of using AI on you. AR Glasses for the Ai Pin But add AR glasses to the mix and the Pin can project a real screen before your eyes. With a screen, you would be able to better handle notifications, read emails and other texts, use navigation apps, and view all photos taken with the device. It could all be a great experience. Such a device would really help reduce screen time. And it could replace the smartphone. Again, the Ai Pin is practically a smartphone – without screens and apps. Accessing Humane Ai Pin content on a computer. Image Source: Humane I said before that Apple should buy Humane for AI technology. This would be an ironic twist for Humane's co-founders, who are former Apple employees. I don't think that anymore. The AI platform Humane created is not unique. Features like those developed by Humane will soon reach all smartphones. Devices like the Galaxy S24 and iPhone 16 are expected to come with built-in AI features that can provide an Ai Pin-like experience. Then there's Google building generative AI features into Assistant for Pixel phones. Of course, you won't use a camera, but you will use your phone's cameras a lot. And you will always see what you are interacting with. How Apple will 'kill' its own iPhone Rumors say that Apple is working on AR glasses that could replace the iPhone. However, significant innovations are needed to make this independent device happen. The gadget must feature state-of-the-art screens and sound, enormous processing power and a battery that can last all day. All of this must be packaged in prescription-like glasses. But what if you remove all processing from AR glasses to the iPhone? What if your first experience with AR glasses involves a device like an iPhone doing the heavy lifting in your pocket or bag and then projecting it all onto the AR glasses you're wearing? A person using Vision Pro while walking through a room. Imagine a smaller iPhone, perhaps a little bigger than the AI Pin, but smaller than the iPhone mini. You will hardly need to use your screen as you will always rely on your glasses for visual experiences. Over time, this portable iPhone could shrink to the size of an Ai Pin. Maybe one that doesn't even have a screen. Years later, it would disappear when Apple finally put all the technology inside the same glasses. That's why Vision Pro, seen above, is so important. It's a precursor to the AR glasses of the future that Apple can't build right now. With all this in mind, I don't think we are in a place where Ai Pin can be commercially successful. Or that Humane can make money from it. I wouldn't buy a standalone smartphone that wasn't a smartphone, like the Ai Pin from Apple, Google, or any other phone maker. No matter how cool AI features are, they need a visual experience. By the way, it turns out that Ai Pin also makes AI mistakes, some of which appear in the official promotional video. I don't expect Humane to provide a hallucination-free experience. It could take years for this to happen. But we will need screens on AI devices to double-check AI information as long as we cannot fully trust it.
