Humane is reportedly trying to sell itself to HP for $1 billion

By Jess Weatherbed , a news writer focused on creative industries, computing, and internet culture. Jess started her career at TechRadar, covering news and hardware reviews.

Following rumors that Humane is hunting for a potential buyer for its AI Pin business, a new report suggests that HP may be a contender. According to The New York Times, Humane started talking to HP about selling itself for more than $1 billion around a week after reviews emerged that widely panned its $699 wearable AI computer pin.

That figure is also reflective of a similar report from Bloomberg last month that said Humane is “seeking a price of between $750 million and $1 billion.” It also isn’t inconceivable for HP, which previously acquired Palm hardware and its webOS operating system for $1.2 billion in 2010. HP killed all Palm-related production and support the following year, citing poor sales. LG now owns webOS.

Humane — led by former Apple employees Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno — has not responded well to criticism regarding its product, having slammed negative reviews for their lack of optimism. The AI Pin was widely criticized for not living up to its claimed expectations, with the company later emailing customers to warn them that the device’s charging case “may pose a fire safety risk.” The AI Pin’s laser display would also cause the device to overheat, with the Times reporting that Humane executives previously had to chill it with ice packs to keep it running longer.

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