Humane – the most hype AI product with the strangest website.

https://hu.ma.ne/aipin

In case you missed it, but a few ex-Apple folks are launching this new AI-device that some people claim will "kill the iPhone" – a statement we've heard too many times and I sincerely doubt it in this case too.

But anyway, the product seems cool and all, but I think their landing page promoting the product has some really strange use-cases. Here is a gratuitous rant:

The first use-case is a person looking up moon phases and moon photographs.

I'm aware this is probably a cultural thing, but the notion of talking out loud on the bus to speak to my Humane Pin is INSANE to me. I would never do that.

Secondly, he is looking up information about photographs, a visual medium by definition, using a device that can project TEXT 🤨 – why not show someone buying tickets for the bus or similar?

Then we have the skateboarder listening to skateboard music *sigh*.

As an old skateboarder myself, I can tell you that it's not exactly quiet and pleasant when you're riding a skateboard. It's near impossible to hear anything other than the skateboard wheels' rough assault on the asphalt. This just felt like a cringe example where a desperately out-of-touch Creative Director said, 'we need something that speaks to the kids!'.

I would have accepted it somewhat it if they showed that the skateboarder had Bluetooth earphones, but she doesn't. They seem to mean that you should walk/ride around listening to music or talking on the phone via speakers like an annoying teenager.

This product's success is relying on changing lots of behaviors and mental models.

I think we all know how easy that is. Google Glass anyone?

It will only happen if the user can get an incredible advantage compared to the old behavior. I don't see how this product meaningfully improves anything to the extent that it will become adopted further than the tech and product nerds like us :D

End of rant.

Am I wrong, will this be an actual iPhone-killer? Curious to hear if anyone in this group has a take on this – and what do you think about the marketing?

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