Sam Altman-Backed Humane Seeks AI Pin Launch In India

Sam Altman-backed startup Humane is in early discussions with Indian telecom operators to prepare for the launch of its Humane AI Pin device.

Speaking to Moneycontrol, Imran Chaudhari, chairman and president at Humane, said that they are initiating early conversations with Indian telcos and anticipate making official announcements by the end of this year. 

“The overwhelming number of inquiries that are coming to Humane are from India. It is the largest by far,” he said.

The AI Pin is a small device that can be clipped onto clothes or accessories. It uses a combination of voice, gesture, and touch inputs to allow users to access various AI services, including search, translation, navigation and more.

The Ai Pin enables users to communicate with an AI chatbot through voice and laser ink technology.

The Ai Pin is priced at $699, accompanied by a recurring $24 monthly subscription that offers users a phone number and unlimited data for AI-powered queries. T-Mobile serves as the launch partner in the US, and the company has also announced its expansion to international markets, securing a deal with South Korean carrier SK Telecom. 

AI Pin is the new way to interact with the technology that allows further growth. “People want something new beyond smartphones…they want some presence and freedom. We’re really on technology now, but it just takes us away. If we have a better way to integrate technology in our lives, most of us would want it,” Chaudhari told Moneycontrol.

However, Chaudhari added that Humane’s objective is not to disrupt the smartphone market. He emphasised that the device is intended to be a companion, designed to complement smartphones rather than replace them. The aim is to provide users with an alternative that can enhance their relationship with technology.

Chaudhari added it is working with partners to develop various use cases, such as in the medical space.

Founded in 2017 by former Apple executives Bethany Bongiorno and Imran Chaudhri, Humane raised around $200 Mn in funding from investors, including Microsoft, Qualcomm Ventures, and Sam Altman of OpenAI.

In December last year, the company announced that the Ai Pin, powered by ChatGPT and backed by Sam Altman, will start shipping in March 2024.

This comes at a time when Sam Altman’s OpenAI is reportedly partnering with Rishi Jaitly, former Twitter India head, to gain insights into and navigate India’s policies and regulations concerning the AI landscape.

Although OpenAI does not have an official presence in India, it recently secured trademark approval. 

Founded as a non-profit by Altman, Elon Musk, and others in 2015, OpenAI later introduced a for-profit arm in 2019. Originally focused on creating beneficial AI for humanity, the launch of ChatGPT, a consumer chatbot app, propelled OpenAI into the mainstream, establishing itself as a leading company in AI. 

In October, a report from The Information revealed that according to Altman, OpenAI is achieving an annual revenue rate (ARR) of $1.3 Bn.

As per an Inc42 report, “India’s Generative AI Startup Landscape, 2023”, the GenAI market in India is poised to see a substantial increase from $1.1 Bn in 2023 to over $17 Bn by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 48%.

India currently boasts over 70 generative AI startups. These startups have collectively secured more than $440 Mn in funding between 2019 and the third quarter of 2023.

Note: We at Inc42 take our ethics very seriously. More information about it can be found here.