Buzz has been building around secretive tech startup Humane for over a year, and now the company is finally offering a look at what it’s been building. At TED last month, Humane co-founder Imran Chaudhri demoed the AI-powered wearable the company is building to replace smartphones. Snippets of the video leaked online after the event, but the full video is now available to view.
The device appears to be a small black disk that slips into a breast pocket, with a camera, projector, and speaker protruding from the top. Throughout the 13-minute presentation, Chaudhri explains several use cases for Humane’s device:
Chaudhri, who previously worked in design at Apple for more than two decades, pitched the device as a balm for a world covered in screens. “Some believe that AR/VR headsets like these are the answer,” he said, a picture of a VR headset behind him. He argued that such devices, like smartphones, put “another barrier between you and the world.”
Humane’s device, whatever it’s called, is designed to be more natural by avoiding the screen. The gadget works by itself. “You don’t need a smartphone or any other device to pair it,” he said.
It’s an impressive demonstration and a good idea. But it leaves a ton of questions open, from how much of this demo is real to how this device can actually fit into our lives:
Chaudhri says Humane will have more to share in the “coming months.” We hope to learn more and hopefully get many more answers.
