What happens if former Apple employees decide to create a revolutionary device? In this case it was born Humane, the startup founded by Imran chaudhri e Bethany Bongiorno who has just previewed his new gadget. It is a wearable device with a projected screen and AI functions designed to become the first of the future personal assistants that aim to replace our mobile phones.
The smartphone is no longer needed
Chaudhri, president and chairman of Humane, explains that the device was designed entirely for artificial intelligence and works in total autonomy, without the need to pair it with a smartphone or other device. It is kept in a breast pocket, responds to instructions as a voice assistant would, but it also supports gesture commands.
And then there's the plus: in addition to voice responses, the device is capable of projecting a screen onto nearby surfaces. During the presentation, Chaudhri received a call from Bethany Bongiorno, CEO and co-founder of Humane, and the device projected a screen onto his palm, allowing him to answer hands-free. Like in the movies.
Object recognition and translation
Among other interesting functions, the device includes a camera that recognizes surrounding objects. During the demonstration, the AI assistant identified a candy bar and advised the user against it due to its high caloric value. Finally, it shows a translation function: you press a button, pronounce a sentence and the device translates it by acting as an interpreter. And translates it... in the user's own voice.
"experiential" assistants
Chaudhri describes the experience of using the Humane device as "screenless, fluid and sensitive". It allows you to access artificial intelligence while remaining present in the surrounding context, without sticking your head into a cell phone as we do today. To be fair, Humane isn't the first company to attempt to offer these features, but it's the first to aim to do so in a compact, screenless device that doesn't require the use of a paired smartphone.
I have some open questions about its actual usefulness and usability in real situations, but it seems like a pretty cool idea. Who knows how long it will take for these intelligent assistants to change our usage habits and make us abandon our smartphones.
