Welcome back to Week in Review. This week we’re looking at the internal chaos surrounding HP’s $116 million acquisition of AI Pin maker Humane; Mira Murati’s new AI venture coming out of stealth; Duolingo killing its iconic owl mascot with a Cybertruck; and more! Let’s get into it.
Humane’s AI pin is dead. The hardware startup announced that most of its assets have been acquired by HP for $116 million, less than half of the $240 million it raised in VC funding. The startup will immediately discontinue sales of its $499 AI Pins, and after February 28, the wearable will no longer connect to Humane’s servers. After that, the devices won’t be capable of calling, messaging, AI queries/responses, or cloud access. Customers who bought an AI Pin in the last 90 days are eligible for a refund, but anyone who bought a device before then is not.
Hours after the HP acquisition was announced, several Humane employees received job offers from HP with pay increases between 30% and 70%, plus HP stock and bonus plans, according to internal documents seen by TechCrunch and two sources who requested anonymity. Meanwhile, other Humane employees — especially those who worked closer to the AI Pin devices — were notified they were out of a job.
Apple’s long-awaited iPhone SE refresh has been revealed, three years after the last major update to the budget-minded smartphone. The 16e is part of an exclusive group of handsets capable of running Apple Intelligence due to the addition of an A18 processor. The iPhone 16e also ditched the Touch ID home button in favor of Face ID and swapped out the Lightning port in favor of USB-C. The iPhone 6e starts at $599 and will begin shipping February 28.
News
Table of Contents
- 1. News
- 2. Analysis
- 3. Why did HP purchase Humane’s assets for a significantly lower amount than the company’s previous VC funding?
- 4. Exclusive Interview: Cracking the Humane Acquisition & AI Pin’s Sudden Demise
- 5. HP’s acquisition of Humane: The Elephant in the Room
- 6. the Future of AI Pins and Disgruntled Customers
- 7. Thoughts on Mira Murati’s Upcoming AI Venture
Analysis
Why did HP purchase Humane’s assets for a significantly lower amount than the company’s previous VC funding?
Exclusive Interview: Cracking the Humane Acquisition & AI Pin’s Sudden Demise
Interviewer (IV): Welcome to Archyde, where we bring you insightful conversations with industry leaders.Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Dr.Amina Patel, a former Humane executive adn now a tech industry analyst. Dr.Patel, welcome.
Dr. Amina Patel (AP): Thank you for having me.
HP’s acquisition of Humane: The Elephant in the Room
IV: Let’s dive straight into the chaos surrounding Humane’s recent acquisition by HP. Many are wondering why HP bought Humane’s assets for just $116 million, a far cry from the $240 million Humane raised in VC funding.
IV: And why are some humane employees facing 70% pay increases while others are laid off?
AP: HP’s acquisition of Humane is indeed puzzling on many levels. Firstly,the $116 million figure seems low,but we must remember that acquisitions are often about strategic value rather than just financials. HP could be interested in Humane’s technology and talent more than it’s financial metrics.
AP: As for the pay disparities and layoffs,these are common in mergers and acquisitions. HP is highly likely to keep the talent crucial to its new projects and let go of those whose roles are no longer necessary or can be better filled in-house.
the Future of AI Pins and Disgruntled Customers
IV: Humane customers who bought the AI Pin within the last 90 days are eligible for refunds, but those who bought it earlier are out of luck. How do you think this will play out for Humane’s (or rather,HP’s) reputation?
AP: This is a significant PR blunder for both Humane and HP.While I understand that legal and financial constraints may have tied their hands, the lack of customer empathy in this situation is glaring. This could lead to considerable backlash, with customers feeling betrayed and mistreated.
Thoughts on Mira Murati’s Upcoming AI Venture
IV: Turning the page in時点istory, Mira Murati is exiting google to launch a new AI venture. Given your experience in AI, what are your expectations for this new project?
AP: I’m eagerly awaiting Mira’s new venture.Her track record at Google, particularly in AI and machine learning, speaks for itself. I expect her new project to be innovative, aspiring, and focused on ethical AI growth – a much-needed perspective in the current landscape.
IV: Thank you, Dr. Patel, for your insightful perspectives. We look forward to seeing how these stories unfold.
AP: my pleasure. Its always a pleasure discussing tech’s latest developments.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
