No display, no buttons, but voice control and a projector for the palm of your hand: Humane's AI Pin wants to replace the smartphone. During a demo at the MWC, the small part shows what it can do – and what it can't.
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The small box, measuring around 4.5 by 4.8 centimeters and weighing around 34 grams, is worn on the upper body. Instead of a display, the AI Pin has a tiny laser projector on board that projects content onto the palm of your hand. In the demo, this was shown for music playback; the bluish font was not particularly sharp, but was still quite legible. However, this type of representation is hardly suitable for longer texts, let alone films or games. The latter also lacks a touchscreen for operation, even if the AI Pin can recognize some finger gestures, for example to start and stop music playback. At the MWC this usually worked on the first try, but sometimes it took several tries before the pin recognized the signal.
The Humane AI Pin also records the environment with its camera. When asked what he saw, the device responded via voice output with a very accurate description in English: Many people with cameras and smartphones looking in their own direction, a colorful and well-lit environment in an interior can be seen. It wasn't anything that your own eyes couldn't see, but at least it was true.
Humane AI Pin asks for headphones
Also shown was translation of spoken language, from English to Korean and Japanese. Due to our lack of language skills in the target languages, we were unable to assess the quality of the content, but those around us were satisfied.
In addition to the optical output via the projector, the acoustic communication also showed problems, because in the full exhibition hall the AI Pin could be clearly heard from about one and a half meters despite the full volume, but could hardly be understood. In real use, you should use the device in public with headphones, also with regard to your own privacy and the acoustic nuisance of the environment.
It is still unclear whether the Humane AI Pin will ever come onto the market in Europe. In the USA the part costs a one-time fee of 699 dollars, plus 24 dollars a month for the Humane service subscription.
(sht)