Humane’s AI Pin revival bypasses HP’s printer expertise

Former Apple executives’ failed Humane Ai Pin has found new life through an open-source project called OpenPin, after HP acquired the intellectual property and deactivated the service that powered the device. This unexpected development transforms what had become expensive paperweights into potentially more capable devices, now that development restrictions have been removed and the community can expand the hardware’s functionality beyond its original limitations.

The big picture: Humane’s Ai Pin wearable device has been revived through open-source development after the original company shut down its backend services.

• The project, available at openpin.org, allows owners of the bricked devices to restore functionality instead of leaving them as expensive dust collectors.
• Without the constraints of Humane’s original vision, the open-source community can potentially make the hardware more capable than the original product.

Why this matters: The resurrection demonstrates how consumer electronics can gain second lives through community-driven development when companies abandon their products.

• The situation highlights the vulnerability of cloud-dependent hardware when companies fail or are acquired.
• This development might actually increase interest in the hardware now that it’s freed from its original limitations.

What happened: HP purchased Humane’s intellectual property but discontinued the backend services necessary for the Ai Pin to function.

• The Ai Pin, created by former Apple executives, had originally positioned itself as an iPhone competitor.
• After being effectively “bricked” by the service shutdown, the hardware has found new purpose through the open-source project.