HP Acquires Humane for $116M: AI Pin Production Halted, New HP IQ Division Formed

HP Acquires Humane for $116 Million, AI Pin Production Halted

In a significant move within the tech industry, Humane has announced the sale of the majority of its company to HP for $116 million. This acquisition marks the end of Humane’s AI Pin project, with sales and support for the device set to cease immediately.

Existing AI Pin users will be able to continue using their devices until February 28th, after which all features requiring connectivity will be disabled. Humane is advising users to download any stored data before the shutdown date.

For customers who recently purchased the AI Pin, refunds will be available for devices within a 90-day return window, with prorated refunds offered for associated subscriptions. Additionally, automatic refunds for recalled charging cases will be processed after February 28, 2025.

The deal sees HP acquiring Humane’s CosmOS operating system, technical staff, and over 300 patents. This acquisition comes after Humane’s AI Pin faced significant challenges following its launch in April 2024.

Despite initial promotion through a TED demo and reveal video, the AI Pin’s official release was met with negative reviews from prominent tech critics, including David Pierce and MKBHD. Reports of poor sales performance and high return rates followed.

In response to these setbacks, Humane had attempted to sell the company for $1 billion and later reduced the price of the AI Pin. The company also made efforts to position CosmOS as an adaptable operating system for various devices.

HP’s acquisition of Humane will lead to the formation of a new division called HP IQ, which will be led by Humane’s founders. This new entity will focus on integrating AI into HP’s products and services, serving as an AI innovation lab for future work ecosystems.

As the tech landscape continues to evolve, this acquisition represents a significant shift in the AI wearables market and signals HP’s increased focus on AI integration in its product lineup.