How the Humane AI Pin aims to replace your smartphone

The Humane AI Pin made its long-awaited debut, offering the public a close-up glimpse of the screen-free AI wearable aiming to replace the smartphone. Run by former Apple employees Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno, Humane stayed under the radar until this week, building up the excitement around AI Pin as the next big thing in computing. However, whether AI Pin will be a game-changer like the iPhone or just a passing fad is still up in the air. We’ll have to wait and see.

Anyway, AI Pin comes stacked with awesome features that make a strong argument for ditching the screen. Let’s dive into the futuristic capabilities that set AI Pin up to challenge the smartphone.

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AI Pin explained

The Humane Ai Pin is a fresh standalone gadget with a software platform that taps into the magic of AI to bring about inventive personal computing adventures. This smart clothing wearable relies on various sensors to facilitate contextual and ambient computing interactions. Humane is teaming up with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. for this one-of-a-kind device and design. The initial gadget from Humane will run on an advanced Snapdragon platform provided by Qualcomm Technologies.

Humane’s goal with the Pin is basically to simplify all the cluttered interfaces in your tech. No homescreen, minimal settings, or account hassle – the idea is you can just chat with or touch the Pin, tell it what you want, and it takes care of the rest. In the past year, we’ve seen a ton of features accessible through straightforward text commands to chatbots; Humane is aiming to create a device with that same user-friendly vibe.

The main gig for the Pin is linking up with AI models using the company’s AI Mic software. Humane’s press release throws in names like Microsoft and OpenAI, and initial reports hinted at GPT-4 as the powerhouse – turns out, ChatGPT access is a key feature of the device. Their operating system, Cosmos, is crafted to handle your questions by directing them to the right tools without making you fuss over downloading and managing apps.

AI Pin lacks a screen but projects on your palm

Humane markets AI Pin as the anti-smartphone, letting you engage with the world without staring at a screen. However, for those moments when visuals are a must, AI Pin has got you covered with its “laser ink display” that can project onto your palm.

Just like the double tap on the Apple Watch, you can pause or play music by tapping your index finger and thumb together. There are also other gestures, like tilting your hand forward, back, or down, each with its own specific action.

AI Pin puts voice commands at the forefront

Since there’s no screen, AI Pin relies mainly on audio for communication. Humane utilizes OpenAI’s model to manage searches and tasks through voice commands, which they refer to as AI Mic.

ChatGPT already has something similar, so it’s like making that your main way of talking to the device. The cool thing about AI Pin is that all your apps and accounts are connected to it. So, you can use AI Mic to find a reservation code in your inbox or dictate messages to folks in your contact list.

They’ve got a feature called “Catch Me Up” that sifts through your inbox to give you the lowdown on important updates, like the final decision in an email thread about coordinating dinner plans.

AI Pin can translate languages in real-time

In the promo video, a woman uses AI Pin’s computer vision to check out the sugar content in a Dragon Fruit, making sure it aligns with her dietary goals. AI Pin can supposedly analyze a handful of almonds in your hand and estimate its protein content — although it might not be 100% accurate. Humane is kicking off with this feature as a nutrition tool but plans to broaden its applications in the future.

AI Pin’s got another cool feature in its bag – real-time translation. Just with a few simple commands, the device can figure out the language being spoken and translate it back to you, or the other way around.

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AI Pin takes user privacy seriously

Unlike voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant, AI Pin skips the wake word game, so it’s not casually eavesdropping on your chats. It kicks into action only when you decide to turn it on manually. To tackle any privacy concerns, AI Pin features a “prominent Trust Light” that lights up when the device is in use.

To keep your chats with AI Pin confidential, the device uses a “personic speaker” that forms a “bubble of sound.”

AI Pin and its accessories kick off at $699, and if you want a cellular plan through T-Mobile, add an extra $24 per month. You can start placing orders for AI Pin on November 16, and they’ll begin shipping in early 2024.