Humane AI Pin
Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just a buzzword but a tangible presence in our daily lives. With the overuse of smart devices, the Humane AI Pin has been blowing up the internet over the last few months. It combines the intelligence of sophisticated AI with the entire internet, all brought to you in a way that allows you to be completely present in a moment without being bogged down by the hassle of working around intrusive, addictive phone applications. As someone who has recently had the privilege of using this device, I am excited to share my insights on this ground-breaking wearable that is set to revolutionize our interaction with AI.
Humane AI Pin introduced at the Coperni Spring/Summer 2024 runway show, reported by Vogue Italia. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Introducing the Humane AI Pin
At first glance, the Humane AI Pin might appear to be a simple accessory, but it is so much more. Here's how it works: it clips onto your clothing and stays there on standby most of the time, and then only when you decide that you want to engage with it do you place your finger on this touchpad and speak. But those are still basic requests of even ChatGPT; the real benefit of this being an AI-powered assistant is that you can also do things like look at something and identify what it is! Well, Meta smart glasses do that too, but nah, both are kind of different.
The coolest party trick is that it shoots a laser screen onto the palm of your hand, and you can interact with it using your fingers. You can view your photos and videos (only taken on the Pin, because it is a standalone device), but in a blue 720p format! You can send or share a link to view it on its own AI portal.
Technically, both devices aim to provide AI-powered assistance and reduce the overuse of smartphones. However, the Meta Glasses seem to focus on visual interactions and AR, while the Humane AI Pin emphasizes voice interactions and aims to be a more subtle presence. One of the most significant advantages of the AI Pin is its potential to enhance productivity and efficiency. Whether it’s managing schedules, setting reminders, or providing hands-free assistance, the Pin is like having a personal assistant that you can wear.
CosmOS: A New Dawn for AI
CosmOS, the AI operating system that powers the Pin, is a marvel in its own right. Its ability to process natural language, coupled with machine learning capabilities, makes it a formidable force in the AI space. The Pin doesn’t come with a wake word; it works or turns on the mic only on touch. Once the question is asked, it connects to the cloud and answers. Also, it is multimodal, which means it interacts with your surroundings using its camera. And CosmOS remembers everything you ask it to. Pretty neat.
Humane AI Pin introduced at the Coperni Spring/Summer 2024 runway show, reported by Vogue Italia. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
To invest or not to?
The Humane AI Pin has some great stuff, like its small size and lightweight. It’s a neat gadget that you can wear on your shirt. But there are some big issues with it.
Firstly, it’s expensive. The Pin costs $700, and you also have to pay $24 every month to use it. This monthly fee is more than what most people pay for their phone plans. Plus, if you travel, you’ll have to pay even more for roaming. The Pin needs to be connected to the internet to work because it doesn’t do much processing by itself. So, if you’re somewhere without internet, it's as good as nothing. And if you stop paying the monthly fee, the Pin stops working altogether. After two years, you might end up spending around $1,700 on the Pin, including the device, subscription, taxes, roaming fees, and extra accessories. And if you decide to cancel the subscription, all that money spent won’t mean much because the Pin won’t work anymore. So, it’s a big investment for something that might not be worth it in the long run.
The Humane AI Pin is like a piece of your smartphone that you can wear on your shirt. It does a lot of what your phone does but without a screen. You might wonder why you should pay an extra $700 and a monthly fee for something your phone already does. The only plus here is that it’s wearable, unlike your phone.
But here’s a thought: you already pay for your phone’s data plan and its powerful features. Wouldn’t it be better if the AI Pin just connected to your phone and used its power? That’s how smartwatches work. This way, the AI Pin could be cheaper, and you wouldn’t have to pay for data twice. Plus, everything would be in one place. For example, photos taken with the Pin would show up in your phone’s album and cloud storage, like how Apple or Android subscription works. The AI Pin could be even more powerful by using your phone’s apps and capabilities. I’m not saying this product is useless, and I’m willing to try it out more. But I’m not too hopeful it will be worth it unless a big company like Google buys it and makes it work well with Android. That could be a game-changer. All that said, the decision to invest in this new tech now should be weighed against the current limitations and the pace at which the technology is advancing.
