AI Pin: Humane Expands to South Korea Through Partnership with SK Telecom

Joseph Henry, Tech Times 27 February 2024, 10:02 am

Breaking into International Markets

Humane, the startup behind the Ai Pin, has unveiled its strategic move into the international arena, solidifying a partnership with South Korean carrier SK Telecom.

This announcement follows the recent decision by the San Francisco-based company to postpone the release of its wearable device in the U.S. market from March to mid-April.

How Humane Started

(Photo : Humane)
The Ai Pin will be brought to South Korea via SK Telecom. The latest move could mean that production of the device will increase for Humane in the following months.

According to TechCrunch, former Apple executives Bethany Bongiorno and Imran Chaudhri were the founders of Humane. First built in 2017, prominent tech giants helped in funding it until it gathered more than $200 million. These include Microsoft, Qualcomm Ventures, and OpenAI's Sam Altman.

After maintaining secrecy surrounding its product development for years, Humane finally unveiled its ambitious project last June.

What is an Ai Pin?

At the heart of Humane's innovation lies the "Ai Pin," a wearable device boasting a unique form factor equipped with an array of sensors, generative AI capabilities, and a compact projector for displaying information on any surface.

Priced at $699 upfront, the Ai Pin also offers a $24 monthly subscription, providing users with a dedicated phone number and unlimited data for AI-driven interactions.

Strategic Partnerships

Despite facing setbacks, including layoffs and leadership changes, Humane's collaboration with SK Telecom marks a significant step forward. The partnership not only positions Humane as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) but also involves licensing its proprietary AI-enabled operating system, CosmOS, to SK Telecom. This strategic alignment underscores SK Telecom's commitment to bolstering its AI ecosystem and expanding its global footprint.

Expanding AI Ecosystem

SK Telecom's initiatives in the AI space, including the launch of A.Dot and partnerships with AI search engine Perplexity, demonstrate its ambition to become a leading player in the global AI landscape.

Through collaboration with Humane, SK Telecom aims to introduce innovative subscription offerings and revenue streams tailored to the Korean market, leveraging CosmOS to enhance user experiences and drive adoption.

Future Outlook

While specific details regarding the Ai Pin's launch in South Korea remain undisclosed, Humane's expansion into this key market signals promising growth opportunities.

As the company navigates challenges in production and distribution, its partnership with SK Telecom sets the stage for continued innovation and market penetration, paving the way for a new era of AI-powered technology.

Back in October, Humane showcased Ai Pin at the Paris Fashion Week Runway. Naomi Campbell, a supermodel was the one who carried it in front of the crowd in France on Nov. 29.

Will Ai Pin Replace Smartphones?

According to Trusted Reviews, although Ai Pin looks like a futuristic device taken from a sci-fi book, it will not still replace the modern smartphones we have.

It might have a smart screen but that's it. It resembles the Oppo Air Glass 2 smart glasses. It excels in projecting pictures or texts, but this feature can also be done by other advanced devices.