Ai Pin, the first AI hardware that is said to replace smartphones, has been launched under much attention! However, after everyone tried it, they gave overwhelming negative reviews: the operation is difficult to learn, it overheats and shuts down after 3 minutes, it is too slow, too stupid, and unresponsive, and it is impossible to see clearly outdoors… It seems that smartphones are going to be eliminated. Have to wait a while longer.
The much-anticipated ChatGPT version for iPhone is finally available!
Recently, there has been overwhelming discussion about Ai Pin.
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Half a year ago, this product debuted with many names – the world's first AI hardware product, investment by Sam Altman, technical support from OpenAI, a husband-and-wife team of former Apple employees, hundreds of people on the team with Apple genes, and was banned before it was released “Time” named “Invention of the Year 2023″…
Whichever one you pick out alone is enough to shock you. Are our smartphones about to become obsolete? Did the scenes in science fiction blockbusters come true decades in advance?
Who would have thought that after such a fantastic start, the foreign media who had been waiting for half a year to finally get the product to try out would almost unanimously give their evaluation – it's too hip, 4 points can't be more!
The initial problems exposed include but are not limited to: overheating and shutting down after 3 minutes, the operation interface is too complicated, slow, low success rate, and the screen projection cannot be clearly seen outdoors…
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With a hardware fee of $699 and a monthly subscription fee of $24, you just bought this?
The title of the review given by Pinyipin foreign media is like this: “The first major AI hardware release in history is a complete bastard”
“Humane AIi Pin Review: Not even close”
“This $699, $24-a-month wearable computer promises to free you from your smartphone. The only problem is: it doesn't work.”
Of course, there are also some that are more lenient (but only in the title), such as this article from the New York Times “Ai Pin wants to liberate you from your mobile phone”.
Product engineer angrily denounces bad reviews: Ai Pin will change history
Facing the barrage of ridicule and bad comments from the media, Ken Kocienda, director of product engineering at Humane, posted a long article on X in response.
The general idea of this long article is this –
I have seen everyone’s comments about Ai Pin.
In my career, I have developed several 1.0 products, such as the first generation iPhone. So I have experienced this situation before.
I'm very proud of the Ai Pin, I love this gadget. Creating something new is hard, and together with the top team at Humane, we turn dreams into reality.
Of course, you have no obligation to care about our pride. In the final analysis, technology products need to bring benefits to the people who buy them. The benefits in time and money must be greater than the cost of the product. This is our goal.
In my opinion, the evolution of computers is not over yet. Its potential to help humans in daily life is far from being realized.
LLM is an advancement on par with the CPU. Decades ago, the development of the first CPU inspired the creation of operating systems and prototypes that inspired the birth of the personal computer. Today, we are in a similar moment, and AI is changing at a much faster pace than PCs were a few decades ago.
It is from this historical perspective that we built Ai Pin.
I think social media now particularly encourages exaggerated curses. The more pungent and sharp the better. People will poke holes in every little detail and point fingers, but no one can deny that AI will change everything.
Is Ai Pin frustrating at times? Yes. Are our laptops and smartphones sometimes frustrating? Yes, nothing is perfect in the world. Our new AI operating system is a new landscape worth exploring, but it's not magic.
I feel like I can trust my instincts. A few years ago, when I built an auto-correcting touchscreen keyboard for the first iPhone, many people were very skeptical of the concept. Sure enough, over time, most humans on Earth accepted this usage.
Are you interested in how AI changes the way information is interacted with, and are you interested in changing some of your technology habits and finding better ways to use it? Do you like cool new gadgets? If yes, be sure to try Ai Pin.
Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno, co-founders of Humane, also explained: “Ai Pin and its AI operating system Cosmos are the starting point for starting the ambient computing story.”
Today is not the beginning of the story, but the first page of the prologue.
We have an ambitious roadmap that includes software optimizations, new features, expanded partnerships and our software development kit. All of this will make Ai Pin smarter and more powerful over time.
Our vision is that Cosmos will eventually be integrated into multiple devices and form factors, opening up new ways to interact with all devices.
In this regard, most netizens who left messages expressed encouragement for Humane.
“It doesn't matter what others think. As long as you keep innovating and solving problems for mankind, you will reach a beautiful place. I admire you for being able to invent such a thing!”
Some people retorted that everyone's thoughts are still important, after all, it is their wallets that you have to take out.
“I still don’t understand, how does Ai Pin represent the singular moment when human-machine symbiosis fundamentally changes the human condition?”
Others say, how about we just skip this step and use ChatGPT directly on our mobile phones for free? A meaningless product is meaningless no matter how you make it.
Briefly introduce
This $699 AI hardware is equipped with a virtual assistant that can obtain data from OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, etc. to answer questions and perform tasks.
In appearance, Ai Pin is designed like a brooch and is fixed on clothing with magnets.
It's much smaller than you might think: about the size of four coins stacked into a square, or half a pack of gum.
It doesn't weigh much either, at about 55 grams, which is about the same weight as two AA batteries or a car key fob.
But it's very sturdy and designed to withstand drops and even the occasional washing machine wash.
However, since it doesn't come with a screen, users first need to set up accounts and other configurations by visiting Humane's website.
When using it, you just need to extend your palm, and the Ai Pin will project a green laser on it.
Whether it's unlocking the device, connecting to Wi-Fi, or displaying a text transcription of the virtual assistant's answers, all interactions can be carried out through this laser.
Among them, pulling the hand outward increases the number, and pulling the hand inward decreases the number. Selecting each number is achieved by pinching two fingers of the same hand.
In addition to using the laser, you can control it with finger taps and voice.
For example, by pressing and holding a finger on the Ai Pin, you can summon the assistant and ask it to add tasks to your to-do list.
It sounds great, but the reporter from Gear Patrol said straight to the point that this “hot chicken” smart brooch should not replace our mobile phones.
Are you too arrogant, or are investors under too much pressure?
This $699 product was originally expected to be a future replacement for smartphones.
This is thanks to Humane founder Imran Chaudhri's TED talk a year ago, “The Disappearing Computer – A New World Where You Can Bring AI to Anywhere.”
At that time, Imran Chaudhri’s fascinating speech sparked great enthusiasm for new consumer-grade AI hardware.
Everyone is talking about how this device might be able to break our smartphone addiction. By taking our interactions with technology away from screens, we can once again be free to enjoy life in front of us.
And venture capitalists and technology evangelists are crazy! The whole pitch reeked of a cocaine craze—
“They use AI!” “A brand new hardware shape!” “The founders and team are all former Apple employees!” The hot-selling elements are instantly available.
As a result, within a few months, the hype about this product started to spread across the board.
In November last year, the unveiling demonstration of Ai Pin was held in a very low-key manner. Only a video was released. Well-known technology media including The Verge were not invited.
To make matters worse, Pin made a very typical AI mistake in the demonstration-seriously talking nonsense.
The best place to watch the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024 should be North America, but Pin said Australia.
Moreover, the attitude of investor Sam Altman is also worth pondering.
The news that he and legendary hardware designer Jony Ive have raised $1 billion to build AI-powered personal devices also made headlines.
It seems that Altman doesn't want to put his eggs in one basket.
After the official release of Ai Pin, Gear Patrol “was disappointed with the lack of innovation in mobile computing.”
Technology can indeed change lives, but only if it easily solves most people’s problems.
However, after putting the Pin on, its heat cannot be ignored, and the gestures for browsing various menus are also complicated, even for technical experts.
All in all, Humane never seemed to bother listening to outside feedback, nor did it appear to collect test data from third-party testers.
Of course, in the response of Ken Kocienda, director of product engineering, he said that once you learn how to operate the Ai Pin, it will be easy.
But the reality is, are users willing to pay for this kind of operating product that takes a lot of effort to learn?
And trial users found that Ai Pin often failed to answer basic questions, or provided wrong answers, and did not respond to gestures.
The fact that it's so slow to respond also reduces its usability in daily life.
Even innovative AI products cannot be too arrogant about the world.
So, why is Humane rushing to launch a product it’s clearly not ready for? Perhaps, it was forced by pressure from investors.
Now, the pressure is on other AI hardware devices. After the failed launch of Ai Pin this time, they must come up with a good enough product to convince everyone that this is not another Ai Pin.
Very unique, but I only give it 4 points
In this review, The Verge focuses on two issues.
First, the big picture: Does this device have any practical use?
In fact, most of the time users just want to check the time, jot something down, or send a text message to someone. But as soon as you turn on your phone, you will be distracted by TikTok, emails, or other unimportant notifications.
At the same time, considering the inconvenience of operating a mobile phone when you are busy, there are indeed many things that can be done on other devices.
So Ai Pin does offer some unique value.
And this leads to the second question: should you buy this device?
The answer is simple: no.
While Ai Pin is an interesting concept, it's imperfect and has many flaws.
Coupled with the price of US$699 and the monthly subscription fee of up to US$24, it is really difficult to “use it”.
Indescribable interaction
One advantage of having the Ai Pin on your chest is that you can easily reach it with either hand and even wake it up with just a little finger.
By the way, if you wear a coat over your clothes or have very long hair, the Ai Pin will most likely be blocked.
Closer to home, whenever you want to talk to Ai Pin, just press and hold the touchpad on the front side of it, and then speak a question or command, without any wake words at all.
You can also perform certain functions with simple touchpad operations just like using computer keyboard shortcuts: double-tap with two fingers to take a photo; double-tap and hold to record a video.
It's reminiscent of the days of Alexa and Siri a decade ago, when you'd find it much quicker to say “set a timer for 10 minutes” with your voice than to open your phone's Clock app.
Of course, Ai Pin will also be very conspicuous when it is used – such as when you are standing in front of a building, tapping your chest and talking to yourself.
However, if you want to perform more complex operations, the problem arises – Ai Pin's user interface is too complicated.
For example, during the unlocking process, you need to select a number from a series of numbers by moving your hand back and forth, and then pinch together with your thumb and index finger to confirm the selection.
Once unlocked, you'll see a home screen-like interface where you can check for new text messages or calls, and view the time, date, and weather with the tap of a finger through the menu.
When scrolling, you need to slightly tilt your hand back and forth.
When entering settings, you need to move your hand outward until a new radial menu appears. In this menu you need to turn your hand as if there is a marble in your palm.
It should be noted that your hand cannot be too far away from the Ai Pin, otherwise the projection will be lost…
When it comes to projection, Ai Pin’s “Laser Ink” function is the closest thing to the screen.
You can activate it by tapping the trackpad, or asking it to “display” something via voice commands.
If you're communicating with Ai Pin, it's even simpler. At this point, just raise your hand and it will project the text onto your hand instead.
Every time Ai Pin is ready to project, it will first project a green dot to look for your palm, yes only your palm.
Although it only has a 720p resolution and only projects green light, it works pretty well indoors.
However, in bright outdoor light, the projection is almost invisible.
Not only is it slow, but its success rate is also low
Every time Ai Pin attempts to perform an action, the request must be processed through Humane's servers.
If you're lucky, the process will be very slow, if you're not, it will fail completely.
Ideally, Ai Pin still has its fair share of amazing moments.
For example, a reporter stands in front of a restaurant, presses the touchpad and asks: “Look at this restaurant and tell me what its reviews are.”
Ai Pin will take a photo, activate the model to recognize the scene in front of it, and then search for relevant reviews online and give feedback: “Tacombi's reviews are very high, and customers especially like their tacos and friendly service.”
This process is very convenient and can save a lot of time and steps compared to operating on a smartphone.
But most of the time, after you ask a question, you end up waiting endlessly and get nothing in the end.
In one test, even with a huge “Joe & The Juice” sign in front of it and a GPS chip installed in the device, the Ai Pin still couldn't identify which restaurant it was.
On top of that, half the time when trying to make a call it didn't make the call at all.
When someone calls, Ai Pin also sends the call directly to voicemail half the time without even ringing.
Overall, for every successful interaction using Ai Pin, there were three to four failed interactions.
In this regard, the reporter said that the only thing you can really rely on Ai Pin to do these days is to tell the current time.
You have no idea what it's doing
One of the challenges with Ai Pin, ChatGPT, and all other AI products is that you can't see how they work, so it's hard to figure out how to use them.
Advocates of AI argue that this is exactly what it was designed to do – that the technology should work automatically, without the user having to know how.
By contrast, the phones we're using provide constant feedback—colored buttons indicate where to click, and every touch, pinch, or scroll sees an immediate response. Simply put, you can clearly see the various options and their consequences.
When using Ai Pin, you are like wishing on the stars: you can only close your eyes and hope that everything will come true. But most of the time, nothing happens.
According to The Verge, today’s Ai Pin is just a beta version, a prototype, and a proof of concept.
Maybe one day it can turn into a killer all-in-one product, but that's not there yet.
First, you can only use 3 minutes
Similarly, Brian X. Chen, a reporter from the New York Times, also made an in-depth review.
As he was preparing to go to Hawaii for a vacation, he casually asked when packing his luggage: “Besides T-shirts and swimming trunks, what else do I need to bring?”
Ai Pin was quick to advise: “Don’t forget your hat and sunscreen.”
Conversation translation, enjoy silky smoothness
In addition to this daily advice, Ai Pin also has a highlight – it can translate conversations into other languages.
Start by pressing one finger and selecting the language you want to translate to, such as Mandarin.
Then, press two more fingers and say an English phrase, and Ai Pin will respond in Mandarin, and vice versa.
In addition, Ai Pin is quite accurate in its translation of mainstream languages such as Spanish, French and Indonesian.
For example, in the video below of “English to Indonesian”, my conversation with you is as smooth as having a portable translator.
Visual function, better than nothing
In terms of visual capabilities, Ai Pin will use the equipped camera and AI to analyze the surrounding environment and tell you what you are looking at.
For example, hold a bagel in front of it and ask, “Do you think this is healthy?”
Ai Pin will reply instantly: “Bagels are not healthy because they are rich in carbohydrates and may lead to weight gain.”
Later, you can also follow this topic and ask: “How to make bagels taste better?”
Ai Pin can tell you how to make it from scratch.
However, while on vacation, when he asked what the name of the flower in front of him was, Ai Pin said: “This flower is yellow with red stripes inside.”
The answer is correct but does not answer the question.
At this time, his wife spoke: “This is a golden cup vine (Solandra maxima).”
Without “any technology or skills”, I just took a photo with my mobile phone and uploaded it to Google Images for search…
It is impossible to replace a mobile phone
The Ai Pin is similar to a smartphone, with its own phone number and cellular data connection, the ability to make calls and play music, while its camera can also be used to take photos and videos.
However, Ai Pin’s performance in these functions not only fails to surpass the smartphone it wants to “replace”, it is even worse.
When making a phone call, although you can use the assistant to call contacts in your address book, if you need to dial a new number, you need to dictate the digits one by one.
Whether it's photos or videos, the results are very blurry and underexposed.
In terms of entertainment, it only supports a very niche music streaming service – Tidal.
Beyond that, Ai Pin couldn't find any information when he tried to recall the name of a food truck near the resort that made loco moco. Finally, he turned on his phone and returned to traditional search.
Other problems, such as the hallucination of large models, are more sparse and commonplace. For example, Ai Pin means: the square root of 49 is 49…
What's even more terrible is that after about 3 minutes of use, the Ai Pin will automatically shut down due to overheating, completely unable to reach the “theoretical value” of 9 minutes previously claimed by Humane.
However, Brian said that he still likes the fashionable design and concept of this brooch.
But he would never pay $700 for an Ai Pin, let alone pay a $24 monthly subscription fee and T-Mobile's data service.
References:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/11/technology/personaltech/ai-pin-humane-openai-microsoft.html
https://www.theverge.com/24126502/humane-ai-pin-review
https://www.gearpatrol.com/tech/humane-ai-pin-negative-reviews/