HP sets up AI lab with assets of Humane
HP Inc (HPI) is buying the assets of startup Humane for $116m to set up an AI lab.
HP IQ will be based around the engineering team that developed the Humane AI pin, a consumer device for ‘ambient computing’ that integrated a camera, microphone and eight core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor with on-chip AI and with a cellular link to AI services such as real time translation.
The deal includes the CosmOS operating system and intellectual property with more than 300 patents and patent applications. The deal is intended to boost the development of HPI, which is the printer side of the business after the split with HP Enterprise in 2015, into a more experience-led company.
A recall of its battery charging case, a high price for the pin with 4GB of RAM storage and 32GB of eMMC memory and lacklustre reviews meant sales were slow. Humane had been in talks with HP since June last year.
The deal is expected to close at the end of February when the Humane servers will go dark. The domain name is already up for sale
“This investment will rapidly accelerate our ability to develop a new generation of devices that seamlessly orchestrate AI requests both locally and in the cloud,” said Tuan Tran, President of Technology and Innovation at HP. “Humane’s AI platform Cosmos, backed by an incredible group of engineers, will help us create an intelligent ecosystem across all HP devices from AI PCs to smart printers and connected conference rooms. This will unlock new levels of functionality for our customers and deliver on the promises of AI.”
“We’re excited to join HP at such a pivotal moment in the industry and help shape the future of intelligent experiences,” said Bethany Bongiorno and Imran Chaudhri, Co-founders of Humane. “HP’s scale, global reach, and operational excellence—combined with our design-led approach, integration technology, and engineering expertise—will redefine workforce productivity.”
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