Humane announces its first international market for the Ai Pin, partnering with South Korea’s SK Telecom
Hyped AI startup Humane has unveiled plans to expand into its first international market by striking a deal with South Korean carrier SK Telecom.
This announcement follows closely on the heels of the San Francisco-based company’s decision to delay the shipping date of its Ai Pin device from March to mid-April in the U.S. market.
Founded in 2017 by former Apple executives Bethany Bongiorno and Imran Chaudhri, Humane garnered over $200 million in funding from notable backers such as Microsoft, Qualcomm Ventures, and OpenAI’s Sam Altman, all before disclosing details about its product. The company finally unveiled its creation, the “Ai Pin,” last June, offering glimpses of its innovative features in the months that followed.
In essence, the Ai Pin is a wearable device that introduces a novel form factor, equipped with an array of sensors, generative AI capabilities, and a miniature projector capable of displaying information on any surface.
Priced at $699 upfront, the Ai Pin also includes a monthly subscription fee of $24, granting users access to a dedicated phone number and unlimited data for AI-powered queries. This business model positions Humane as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), with T-Mobile serving as its launch partner in the U.S. market.