The AI Pin was introduced to the world as a revolutionary wearable device that could even replace smartphones. However, four months after it began delivering, the AI-powered gadget has proven to be a huge disappointment to consumers.
North American tech site The Verge obtained internal sales data from Humane, the company that makes the AI Pin. The Verge found that between May and August of this year, more devices were returned than were sold by the company.
According to a source on the website, only 7,000 buyers have so far returned the device. Moreover, more than a thousand people have canceled their purchase before receiving the product.
At a cost of $699 (R$3,845) plus a monthly subscription fee of $24 (R$135), it’s no wonder users would expect a quality product, but from the start, that doesn’t seem to be the case.
“Worst product I have ever tried”
The AI Pin was officially launched in November, the month pre-sales began. However, even before deliveries began in April, the product was already the subject of controversy and criticism.
The device didn’t work properly in the presentation video, making some of the questions asked by the creators wrong. Furthermore, posts from people testing the device and showing its questionable performance started appearing on X (formerly Twitter).
In a post shared by user @ImSh4yy, he showed that it takes 21 seconds to send a message saying “How are you?” using the drop screen feature.
After the launch in April, Specialized Vehicles posted several negative reviews. YouTuber Marques Brownlee declared on his channel, which has more than 19 million followers, that the AI Pin was the worst product he had ever reviewed.
According to The Verge , Humane has lost about $1 million (about R$5.5 million) on the defective products. The company, which had expected to sell 100,000 devices in the first year, has only reached the 10,000 mark since the pre-sale in November.
Promise to replace cell phone
The AI Pin became a topic after it appeared as a fashion accessory at a show at Paris Fashion Week in October 2023. The wearable device was presented as a promising thing that should replace smartphones in the future.
Just like current mobile phones, the device will allow you to make calls, send messages, search the Internet, take notes, take photos and videos, among other functions. The main difference between them will be their operating system equipped with artificial intelligence.
The system will allow the user’s hands to be free, as the device responds to questions and requests through voice commands and gestures. Another difference is the fact that it does not have a screen. The product simply projects text onto surfaces, such as the palm of your hand.
Additionally, the AI Pin is equipped with a 13MP ultra-wide-angle camera and features connectivity via Wi-Fi 5, LTE, Bluetooth 5.1, and GPS, in addition to the traditional cellular network.
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Driven by curiosity, she loves to learn about new things and believes that is why she is a journalist. In her free time, she likes to go to the beach, read, watch movies and watch series. Carioca, graduated from UFRJ, currently lives in Portugal, her adopted country.
