Humane’s first screenless wearable AI device, the AI Pin, has faced significant challenges in the market, with more returns than sales over the past three months. Hereโs what went wrong.
In April of this year, Humane, a company founded by former Apple employees, introduced its first screenless wearable AI device, the AI Pin. Priced at $699, the device also requires a $24 monthly subscription fee. However, according to sales data reported by The Verge, returns of the AI Pin between May and August have exceeded the number of units sold.
Humane AI Pin: More Returns Than Sales in the Last Three Months
A source with direct access to the sales and return data revealed that by June, around 8,000 AI Pins were returned, and currently, only about 7,000 devices remain with customers. The data indicates that the total revenue from AI Pin and its accessories is approximately $9 million. The total number of AI Pins sold is about 10,000 units, which is only 10% of Humaneโs target of 100,000 units by April 2025.
These figures, which have not yet been publicly disclosed, highlight the difficulties that Humane is facing. AI Pin sales have fallen far short of the expectations, especially considering the $200 million raised from prominent Silicon Valley figures like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff.
Humane spokesperson Zoz Cuccias acknowledged some “inaccuracies” in The Vergeโs report, including financial data, but did not elaborate when asked for specifics. Cuccias stated, โWe do not comment on financial data; we leave that to our legal advisors.โ
Sources also confirmed that when an AI Pin is returned, the company is unable to refurbish and resell it, effectively turning the device into electronic waste. This situation means that Humane loses the opportunity to generate revenue from reselling these returned devices.
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