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Humane has confirmed it is slashing the price of the AI Pin by $200 as it takes action to reverse the stagnant sales of its flagship product.
After launching earlier this year at $699, the much-maligned gadget now falls into a lower price category, with the details issued in an email drop.
The AI Pin was supposed to be a move toward a post-smartphone environment in which people would spend less time gazing at phones in their hands and wear the necessary tech instead, but it has struggled to move beyond an underwhelming launch.
Some of the reviews were very critical of the release from Humane, with noted tech vlogger Marques Brownlee going as far as to call the $699 device “the worst product I’ve ever reviewed.“
As of August this year, Humane had reportedly reached $1 million in total returns of its AI Pin which was only released four months earlier.
That came after the company was reportedly seeking a buyer for the business, in what has been a turbulent period.
Better performance, better experience, better price.
Ai Pin is just better.
Starting at $499 and available now with CosmOS 1.2 on https://t.co/2IpJBYCG3N pic.twitter.com/Td6r7WYhWB
— Humane (@Humane) October 23, 2024
Warning given on charging case
Does the price drop represent damage limitation or desperation? It remains to be seen if there will be a sudden demand for the AI Pin, but given all that has already passed, it appears unlikely.
A charm offensive was undertaken with the explanation of the new price plan, including the returns policy.
“AI Pin starts at $499 and includes your first month of Humane Plan on us,” the company stated.
“Along with a 90-day return window, it’s completely risk-free to try.”
It may be a risk-free opportunity, but with the product struggling to date, there is no sign that its fortunes can be reversed.
The $499 version is the ‘Eclipse’ version, in matte black anodized aluminum which does not come with a charging case or extra battery. The company did advise customers not to use the charging case, as some battery cells from vendors could “pose a fire safety risk”.
A separate battery can be bought for $69.
Humane’s store also contains the white (lunar) and black (equinox) AI Pin models with polished aluminum, both available for $799.
This comes as part of a ‘complete system’ with battery and charging case included but an important sticking point is that both are showing as sold out.
Image credit: Humane/X
