What to Do with Defunct Humane AI Pin

The Humane Ai Pin is Dead: What Now?

As of today, the Humane Ai Pin is dead, less than a year since its launch. Following an acquisition by HP, Humane shut down many of the core features of the artificial-intelligence-powered wearable and deleted user data, rendering it useless.

What Can You Do Now?

If you spent $700 on an Ai Pin, you might be wondering what you can do now. These are the risks of being an early adopter, but not getting a refund on a device that’s been bricked before the warranty is even up feels like a rip-off. Humane sold roughly 10,000 units, though daily returns were outpacing sales at one point, so there are even fewer Pins in the world. Still, that’s thousands of effectively useless devices. It’s a blip in the amount of e-waste generated in a year around the world—already at a crisis point—but Humane really should have offered a more responsible approach with the Ai Pin’s demise.

File a Complaint With the FTC

Killing a product consumers have spent money on is “unfair and deceptive.” That’s what Lucas Gutterman told WIRED via email. He’s the campaign director of the Designed to Last campaign at Public Interest Research Groups (PIRG).

When We Buy Something with Advertised Features, We Should Get What We Pay For

When we buy something with advertised features, we should get what we pay for, and when we get ripped off, the law should protect us, Gutterman says. “I urge everyone who purchased a Humane AI Pin to file a complaint with the FTC so they can step up and protect consumers.”

What is the FTC?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is a US government agency responsible for promoting consumer protection and ensuring fair competition.

Software Tethering: A Growing Concern

Last year, a coalition of groups like US PIRG and Consumer Reports sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission, urging the agency to address “software tethering,” described as the use of software to control and limit the function of a device after someone buys it. The FTC subsequently conducted a study that attempted to determine software support commitments for more than 180 products, only to find that “nearly 89 percent of the manufacturer’s web pages for these products failed to disclose how long the products would receive software updates.”

The Magnuson Moss Warranty Act

Humane’s warranty states that the “software and software functionality” are excluded, which is often the case on many connected products. But the study also noted that it’s deceptive if manufacturers market a device’s features but then fail to provide software updates to maintain those capabilities—it may violate the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act, which was enacted in 1975 to protect consumers from unfair disclaimers in warranties.

Conclusion

Humane’s demise is a blip in the amount of e-waste generated in a year around the world—already at a crisis point—but it’s a wake-up call for manufacturers to take responsibility for their products. As consumers, we deserve to get what we pay for, and it’s time for the FTC to take a closer look at software tethering and its impact on consumers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What can I do if I have a defective Humane AI Pin?
A: You can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and consider reaching out to the manufacturer for a refund or replacement.

Q: Why did Humane shut down the AI Pin?
A: The company was acquired by HP, and it appears that HP decided to discontinue the product.

Q: Can I get a refund?
A: It’s unlikely, as the warranty only covers hardware, not software, and the product is no longer functional.

Q: Is this a one-off incident?
A: Unfortunately, no. Software tethering is a growing concern, and consumers are often left in the dark about how long a product will receive software updates.