Did you think that nothing in the world of technology would surprise you? After the technology startup Humane unveiled its gadget last night, we dare to say the opposite. We in the editorial office are also looking at it with open mouths and believe that with a little luck it may turn out to be a replacement for classic phones in the future. The gadget is called Ai Pin, and it was created by a team led by a former designer Applu by Imran Chaudhri and can be described very simply as a laser AI projector powered by artificial intelligence, which is de facto its operating system.
Design-wise, Ai Pin looks similar to Apple Watch without straps, but unlike them, its body consists of two parts, one of which houses all the electronics and the other the battery. Incidentally, the separate battery should be one of the strongest weapons of this product, since thanks to this solution it can be easily replaced with another, charged one, thus de facto having the device at hand at all times. Humane itself calls this solution a “permanent energy system”. As for the part with the electronics, it is made of aluminum, is available in three colors and has a touchpad covered with Gorilla Glass, an “optical sensor capsule” or, in standard terms, a camera, a 3D depth sensor (i.e. similar to LiDAR) and a chipset Qualcomm Snapdragon, which powers the entire device. Furthermore, a laser projector is integrated in this part, which projects all information onto the user's hand, which serves as a display. The Ai Pin does not have any other display surface.
And how does the whole device work? Honestly, it's almost unbelievable. Thanks to advanced artificial intelligence, Ai Pin can be used almost like a classic smartphone.one. Just touch it to activate the microphone and then start speaking to it (according to Humane in many languages, although their list is not yet available) and assign it tasks. The device reacts to everything in real time and does what you want it to do. Thanks to the fact that everything is powered by artificial intelligence, there are no applications or anything similar, since everything is created by it directly, of course within the framework of pre-created scenarios by the developer. However, there is no need to explicitly say something like "open notes and write blabla in them", but you can do with "note blabla" and the AI will intelligently record everything in the note sheet. This can then be accessed via a web interface, in which 13MPx photos are also available ultrathe device's wide-angle camera, activity information, nutritional information, and in short, everything the user may need and records in any way.
However, control does not just revolve around the voice. The 3D sensor "sees" your hands and can recognize the gestures you make with them, thanks to which the entire device can be controlled in an elementary way even without a word. This control is based on, for example, various finger combinations, taps and so on, and should be extremely accurate thanks to advanced AI combined with high-precision 3D sensing.
This is the Humane Ai Pin https://t.co/ytUSGF3y55 pic.twitter.com/Zrcoaf49u7
— Humane (@Humane) November 9, 2023
The device has an integrated SIM card, which allows it to receive text messages or phone calls from contacts you designate as trusted. However, even contacts not designated as trusted can call or write to you - the AI evaluates their trustworthiness and "passes" them on accordingly, so for example nestno, that the courier with food wouldn't come to you or wouldn't come to you and so on. Thanks to the integrated microphone, you can of course make calls from the device, but also send SMS messages, primarily via voice. However, since classic dictation support is also available, text can also be dictated into the text message. And the speaker in the device, through which you are called and so on? This one is equipped with the "Personic Speaker" function, which, according to the developers, should create an imaginary bubble of sound around you that you will hear primarily and your surroundings, on the contrary, completely miniThanks to this, you can play music without significantly disturbing your surroundings.
Ai Pin is, at least according to the startup's description, a really interesting device that could easily be a replacement for mobile phones in the future. The price also plays a role in this device. It is set at $700 in the USA, or roughly CZK 16 without tax (although there is a catch in the form of the need for a monthly flat rate with the operator, which is currently only the American T-Mobile). Compared to iPhonem 15 Pro, we are talking about half the price, although of course for a device that is incomparably more limited in terms of usability and so on. On the other hand, its extremely simple usability and overall integration into everyday life could be one of the strongest arguments for success. You simply clip the Ai Pin to your clothes and thanks to it you are instantly connected to the world.
Densely cruel!
This sounds like a good device for the blind to me.
It's good for them that you control it completely without a screen with your voice or gestures (you probably can).
I also find it good for cross-language communication (including sign language) without having to pick up the phone.
Otherwise, as a sighted person, I don't think it's that good to use on its own.
As a sighted person, I would either like it to have a good projector and be able to project an image on the palm, for example, or I would use it paired with a smart watch or a mobile phone or a projector in a bracelet.
I don't really like the fact that it doesn't have an app and does everything through AI. Sure, doing things with an AI assistant can be nice, but at the same time I want to be able to open an app manually, not just at home on a computer. KoneAfter all, in principle, the AI also has to control some applications using those commands. It can't just suck any function out of its finger and do anything, it has to control some software tool with prescribed options for actions. (Although some super-advanced sci-fi AI wouldn't have to have this limitation) Sure, it's nice that I don't need to take my phone out of my pocket and click on anything, it can be convenient, but not being able to take my phone out and do something more detailed manually wouldn't suit me. Especially when it comes to taking photos, editing photos, etc.
So I can imagine it as a good Smart wear gadget paired with others that have a display, not as a replacement for the phone but as a complement. In my opinion, the phone as a relatively large but portable screen can only be replaced by some quality smart glasses or eye lenses. If people really want to wear them, of course… All Smart wear things, especially if they have a camera, create a feeling of limited privacy. They would need to pair the eye lenses with something like that anyway, because without cameras to tell them what's in front of them, the lenses would be useless, and at the same time, the cameras don't fit very well into the lenses themselves. However, when combined with glasses, this device is already useless.
They could also make a version without a camera, just with a microphoneonewith a speaker, for people who don't want to carry a camera and want to keep it completely hidden in their pocket (or use it as a headset)
Another problem seems to me is how the person in the picture is wearing it pinned up. I would have noticed that if I ran to the tram. It's better to either attach it to your clothes in a pocket with a hole for a camera, or wear it as a necklace. Ideally, it should be made in some standardized form so that clothing manufacturers can make a special closable pocket for it and supply it together with a lanyard. Let everyone choose how they want to wear it.
I assume that this article is simply poorly written, or rather, they are chasing a sensation. Manufacturers are certainly not aiming to replace phones, just supplement them. It is simply combining familiar features and technologies into a new type of device. Their software should work with the paired phone.onewith existing apps and software, otherwise the device is much worse than it could be.
That's what I call a personal assistant. I happen to like the idea quite a bit. A portable little brain with an ear and an eye. And a replaceable battery, thank God for that.oneSomeone thought of it again.