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In what can only be described as a strategic masterstroke—or a very expensive impulse buy—HP has acquired AI wearable startup Humane for $116 million. The acquisition marks yet another chapter in HP’s long history of bold decisions, such as making printers that won’t print unless you swear allegiance to HP-branded ink cartridges and questionable ink subscriptions.
AI-Powered Progress (or Carpet Bombing AI Everywhere?)
Whilst their Perfect Output is the first in a category of printer features that HP will call HP Print AI and has been lauded as “HP actually has a decent idea” by Ars Techinca. Poor Scharon Harding seems to spend more time ensuring that readers know that she generally isn’t a fan of HP in general.
HP’s acquisition of Humane, best known for its AI Pin, raises the question: Is HP genuinely interested in revolutionizing personal AI devices, or is this just the latest attempt to plaster AI onto everything in sight? Given HP’s track record, it’s hard not to picture an AI-powered printer that demands you engage in small talk before begrudgingly spitting out a single sheet of paper.
The Humane AI Pin was originally touted as a wearable AI assistant that could replace your smartphone. Unfortunately, the only thing it managed to replace was customers’ patience, as the product struggled to live up to its ambitious vision. Now, with HP at the helm, the AI Pin has been officially bricked, leaving existing owners with an expensive paperweight—an outcome that should feel eerily familiar to anyone who has ever tried to update HP printer drivers.
Another Masterclass in Customer Loyalty (Or Lack Thereof)
If there’s one thing tech companies consistently excel at, it’s turning early adopters into regretful adopters. Humane’s AI Pin customers were barely getting started with their futuristic, voice-controlled clip-on before being unceremoniously shut down. Humane’s response? A warm, heartfelt “Sorry about that.” (No refunds, obviously.)
This move aligns perfectly with HP’s approach to customer relations, where loyalty is often rewarded with firmware updates that disable third-party accessories, obscure subscription models, and printers that enter a coma if you dare to buy ink from an unauthorized vendor.
Adding to the saga, tech reviewer Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) famously called the Humane AI Pin “The Worst Product I’ve Ever Reviewed… For Now.” His scathing review outlined the device’s flaws in painful detail, and shortly after, Humane found itself in a downward spiral. Naturally, some suggested that MKBHD himself was to blame for its downfall—because pointing out a product’s flaws is apparently more dangerous than selling an unfinished, overpriced device.
What’s Next?
Hey HP, write and print my child’s homework, complete with AI-generated excuses for why the printer jammed—something I never asked for in the first place, but THANKS!!!
HP insists that the acquisition will fuel its AI strategy and accelerate innovation. What that actually means remains unclear. Will we see AI wearables rebranded as ‘HP Smart Pins’? Will printers begin aggressively suggesting print jobs based on overheard conversations? Or will HP simply absorb Humane, extract whatever intellectual property it finds useful, and quietly shut down the rest?
For now, all we can do is wait and see. And if HP’s history is anything to go by, that wait will likely include a firmware update that accidentally breaks something important.
Stay tuned.
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