AI Pin just can't catch a break

The term “OK” likely comes from a humorous misspelling of "all correct" as “orl korrekt” in the 1830s.

What’s in store:

• The AI Pin, a story of neverending stumbles.

• AI and healthcare will go hand in hand in 2025.

• Around the web: Substack now lets users post directly from profiles, turning it into a social network.

• How Dice Cream is the coolest startup!

Read Time: 4 minutes

AI GADGETS

Humane’s AI pins returns outpace actual sales

Humane's $699 AI Pin is facing a wave of returns.

Between May and August, more Pins were returned than sold.

By June, around 8,000 units remained with customers, dropping to about 7,000 by August. The company had hoped to sell 100,000 this year. Yikes.

Initial reviews were harsh.

David Pierce said it "just doesn’t work," and Marques Brownlee called it "the worst product" he’s reviewed.

Humane is now trying to stabilise and maintain confidence among staff and potential buyers, with reports of HP considering purchasing the company and ongoing negotiations with investors to raise debt.

Here’s what you should know:

• Lifetime sales of the AI Pin and accessories total just over $9 million.

• Around $1 million worth of product has been returned.

• Approximately 10,000 Pins and accessories have shipped, far below the 100,000 goal for the first year.

One bumpy launch

Humane faces another hurdle: returned Pins cannot be refurbished due to a T-Mobile limitation, rendering them e-waste.

Despite software updates addressing user feedback, executive turnover and cost-cutting measures have plagued the company.

Notably, several key executives have left since the start of the year.

Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno, cofounders of Humane, previously worked at Apple and introduced the AI Pin with significant buzz.

However, early testers, including friends and family, reported numerous issues, which were ignored ahead of the public launch.

Do we all collectively cringe when we hear about this pin, or is it just me?

Vote for live results and see results + opinions from yesterday at the bottom of the email.

AI STARTUPS

Invest in the Dessert of the Future

Dice Cream has built a fully automated ice cream parlour, powered by robotics and AI.

With 144 unique order combinations, the ability to serve 90 customers an hour, and higher profit margins than traditional stores, this machine is ready to take the ice cream world by storm.

You can invest in Dice Cream now to own a part of their delicious vision, but act fast, because the campaign ends August 28th.

On This Day

August 9th 1854 - Henry David Thoreau publishes "Walden," detailing his experiment in solitary living at Walden Pond, Massachusetts.

Riddle Me This

I’m the sum of squares and the square of sums,

For numbers real, I’ll never succumb.

You’ll find me in the theorem of a famous name,

In triangles right, I stake my claim.

What am I?

Nifty Numbers

Tech Industry Dominance

North America, Asia, and Europe dominate the IT industry, commanding 88% of the market share. North America leads with 35%, Asia follows at 31%, and Europe holds 22%. Despite progress in Africa and Latin America, these developed markets continue to shape the global tech landscape.

AI IN HEALTHCARE

AI’s impact on the NHS

With over seven million patients waiting and around 100,000 staff vacancies, AI could be a game-changer for the NHS in the U.K.

It can improve patient care and free up staff time by identifying risk factors, assisting with diagnoses, and handling routine tasks like scheduling and note-taking.

Here’s the gist:

• AI helps spot risk factors and speed up diagnoses.

• It automates admin tasks, boosting productivity.

• Generative AI offers personalised treatment options.

NHS’s new ally in healthcare

Generative AI, which creates text and images, is seen as transformative.

Sir John Bell from the Ellison Institute of Technology believes it will improve diagnostic accuracy and patient outcome forecasts.

However, he stresses the importance of sharing innovations to benefit all communities.

Despite its potential, AI has challenges.

It must be accurate, with results verified by trained staff.

The government is evaluating generative AI for the NHS, aware of issues like AI sometimes generating incorrect content.

Dr Caroline Green from the Institute for Ethics in AI emphasises the need for proper training to mitigate these risks.

There are concerns about data privacy and bias, as AI models might not represent all populations equally.

Strict regulation is needed to protect patient data and ensure fair access.

The MHRA regulates AI medical devices, and the Health Foundation has proposed a strategy for fair AI rollout.

The new Labour government plans to use AI for faster diagnoses with AI-enabled scanners.

While AI's impact on healthcare is promising, building confidence among NHS staff and patients is crucial.

AI and healthcare, what’s not to love.

Mindstream Picks

A Chinese launch on Aug. 6 deployed communications satellites but created over 50 pieces of debris that could threaten spacecraft in low Earth orbit.

TikTok has become an official partner of Gamescom 2024, one of the world’s largest gaming conferences, to strengthen its ties with the gaming community.

Donald Trump Jr. revealed plans to launch a new DeFi cryptocurrency platform aimed at addressing banking inequality, though it's still in the early stages and will take time to develop.

Stocks surged Thursday as lower-than-expected jobless claims eased recession fears, leading the S&P 500 to its best day since 2022.

Don’t Miss - Substack now lets users publish posts directly from their profiles, turning the platform into more of a social network. Users can gain subscribers and publish content without creating a full publication but won’t have private profile options. Substack is also enhancing mobile functionality, testing live video and in-app payments.

AI Art

Our Image of the Day

Daily Image Prompt

Submit your artwork to Mindstream →

Yesterday’s Poll

“Do you think this will help bloggers?”

Absolutely, it's a revolution for content creation! - 53% ✅

Not really, I like my writing just fine. - 47%

Your Views:

“AI writing tools are a great way to overcome writer's block and to give feedback in the writing process.” - dbklingler

“These tools are all so bad. The writing is like the graphics created with generative AI - you can always tell AI content vs non-AI.” - deedeew

Submit your opinions in our daily poll to be featured!