Artificial intelligence startup Humane has sent emails to users of its $699 AI Pin, telling them to “immediately stop” using the Charge Case Accessory “out of an abundance of caution” after identifying quality issues with the battery.
“While we know this may cause an inconvenience to you, customer safety is our priority at Humane,” the company wrote in the email, which was sent Wednesday, June 5, including to CNET, and published on the company’s website.
The company said it will give users two months of subscription to its service, worth $48, as compensation rather than replacing the devices.
Humane did not appear to publish any information about the warning on its website or social media channels. The Charge Case is listed as “out of stock” on the company’s purchase page, promising it will “ship separately when available.”
A Humane representative declined to comment further.
The move from Humane — which the company appears to not be describing as a recall — marks another dark spot after its AI Pin was panned upon release in April. Critics complained that the device didn’t deliver on its Star Trek communicator-like concept, and instead was buggy, slow and hard to use.
CNET’s Scott Stein wrote that his AI Pin “suddenly needed cooldowns” after using its laser-projected display, noting that the device got uncomfortably warm during use.
“When this happens, I can’t use the pin at all, which concerns me,” Stein wrote. “First of all, what if I needed it? Second, I’m suddenly wearing a hot pin on my chest.”
Read more: Humane AI Hands-On: My Life So Far With a Wearable AI Pin
Apple alum and Humane co-founder Bethany Bongiorno told Stein at the time that the AI Pin’s behavior was “part of the pin’s thermal management.”
Humane has reportedly raised $240 million, valuing the San Francisco-based startup at $1 billion. The New York Times reported Thursday that the company is hoping to sell itself to HP for more than $1 billion, or potentially raise more funds. Humane’s leadership declined to comment about a sale or further fundraising to the newspaper, and representatives didn’t respond to a further request for comment from CNET.
Humane isn’t the only AI technology that’s struggled with a rough launch. In May, another high-profile startup, Rabbit, released its $199 pocket-sized rectangular device to similar criticism, with CNET’s Lisa Eadicicco declaring it “half-baked” in her review.
“Many of its features and experiences feel unfinished, and you’re much better off just using your phone,” Eadicicco wrote. “There may be big things ahead for the Rabbit R1, but I can’t review what isn’t there yet.”
Last week, Google also pumped the brakes on its AI Overviews feature for its search service, after that feature sincerely told some users to add glue to their pizza, and to eat rocks as part of a heathy diet. Google said at the time that it’s revamping how its service responds to parody.
Regardless, companies and governments are continuing to embrace AI as a necessary tool for the future. That includes Apple, which is expected to announce revamped AI features for its iPhones, iPads and Mac computers during its annual Worldwide Developers Conference starting June 10. For hands-on CNET reviews of generative AI products including Gemini, Claude, ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, along with AI news, tips and explainers, see our AI Atlas resource page.
Read more: AI Atlas, Your Guide to Today’s Artificial Intelligence
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