Humane
The AI Pin proved that AI-first hardware without a clear use case is a solution looking for a problem. Reviews were unanimously devastating.
2018 → 2025
$241M
Consumer Electronics/AI
USA
IdeaProof AI Failure Score
Full Analysis
Humane was founded by ex-Apple employees to build the "post-smartphone" AI Pin — a screenless wearable that projected information onto your palm and used AI for voice interactions. Despite $241M in funding and celebrity backers, the product was universally panned upon launch. Reviews called it slow, unreliable, and lacking basic functionality phones already provided. The company sought a buyer in 2024 but found no takers. By 2025, Humane had effectively ceased operations. The AI Pin became a cautionary tale: being "post-smartphone" means nothing if the product is worse than a smartphone at every task.
Could This Failure Have Been Prevented?
IdeaProof's AI validates market demand, competitive positioning, and business model viability in minutes — catching the exact issues that sank Humane.