The latest futuristic AI wearable, the Humane Ai Pin, has been grabbing all the attention – and it’s not for the first batch of products being shipped to its users. It’s because of the many user reviews criticising and utterly demolishing the product.

This begs the question: Should a first-of-its-kind technology breakthrough be chastised so much? 

Source: X

Brutally Honest? 

The ambient computing interactive device, or the AI Pin that can be worn on your clothes or bag, can execute a range of functions. From picking calls, reading messages, to clicking pictures, or simply using it as a personal assistant that operates through voice, the wearable was delivered to its first set of users last week. 

However, the device that was expected to be a probable replacement for a smartphone, did not garner user reviews that lived up to the expectation of their demo video. 

A number of gadget reviewers, including prominent YouTubers, have called it “not good” and even termed it as the ‘worst product reviewed’. Some of the key problems highlighted were the long latency, imperfect speech intonations and even hallucinations. However, the biggest is the price point. 

Though the pin is packaged as a $699 product, a customer ends up spending $1700 when subscription and other charges are added. 

While the bashing may seem too harsh, the phenomenon is not new. 

History Repeats

When Apple’s first Macbook was launched in 2006, the product faced heavy criticism. The initial polycarbonate MacBook versions had problems such as unexpected shutdowns and palm-rest discolouration. Interestingly, Apple has always been on the receiving end of brick-bats. 

Apple’s iPad was initially dismissed as a ‘big iPod touch’ and questioned its utility and potential success. Even iPhones were not spared when first unveiled. One of the main concerns at that time was the lack of features such as a physical keyboard and replaceable batteries that were prevalent in other phones at that time. 

The relatively new spatial computing device Apple Vision Pro also faced a setback when many users returned the product after using it. However, new use cases for the devices are still emerging, and the device can be even equated to an autonomous vehicle.

Interestingly, the founders of Humane Ai Pin, Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno, were former director of design and software engineering at Apple. And, going by the criticism garnered, it looks like the Apple didn’t fall far from the tree. 

The criticism for new products arise from nascent technology that will always take time to adopt. Further, iterations for products are when initial problems are rectified. Problems such as latency could possibly be something that can be rectified in the Ai Pins with the future versions of the device. 

The storm that followed the Humane Ai Pin’s release, had one set of users bash the product, but at the same time, another set came out in full support. Marc Andreessen, American entrepreneur and founder of VC firm Andreessen Horowitz, showed support for the new technology. 

Source: X

“For people like me who struggle to remember details, lists, manage calendars and like to think verbally, this will be a game changer. Sure it’s slow or whatever now, but can you imagine what it will be like in 10 years?” said a user on X. 

Looking Through Different Lens

While the backlash for the product was criticised, MKBHD retorted with another video explaining the reason for the Humane Ai Pin’s scathing review video. He also asked, “Do bad reviews kill companies or bad products kill companies?” A question only time can answer. 

It is probably too soon to diss an innovative new product, as use cases are only slowly emerging. Further, innovative devices will not stop being produced. Just yesterday, Nothing introduced earbuds that have ChatGPT integration and users can converse with it, via a pinch feature. 

It might make sense to review a product, a few months after using it. Afterall, Steve Jobs once said, “People don’t know what they want until you show it to them.” In Humane Ai Pin’s case, people may still not be too sure of what they want even after giving it to them.