US startup Humane, founded by former Apple employees, has announced the name of its first device. The device, called “Humane Ai Pin,” is a small box that can be voice-controlled from a shirt pocket and functions as a fully-fledged mobile computer. It is set to be released later this year, according to founders Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno.
The device’s resemblance to technology from the sci-fi series Star Trek is what connects Humane to Apple. The Ai Pin is similar to the well-known communicator used by characters in the series to communicate with others and retrieve information. Humane aims to deliver a personal mobile computer that can harness the power of artificial intelligence and can be taken anywhere.
The Ai Pin is said to be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip. Chaudhri provided a glimpse of what the device can do in a TED Talk, explaining that it could use a laser to project a screen display into the user’s hand, allowing for natural interaction. However, Humane has not yet revealed further details about the device.
Humane’s founders, who were involved in the development of the iPad among other projects, left Apple in 2017 to establish the startup. Since then, other former Apple employees have joined Humane, which aims to create the technology of tomorrow.
