Humane AI company enacts layoffs after product launch

Humane, a startup recently in the spotlight for its “AI Pin,” has laid off 4% of its workforce, amounting to 10 employees, as reported by The Verge. This move is part of a broader trend of job cuts across the tech industry. CEO and co-founder Bethany Bongiorno described these layoffs on LinkedIn as a necessary restructuring for transitioning from a stealth AI startup to a more customer-centric company. This shift necessitates new skillsets, particularly in AI application development and external developer collaboration.

The layoffs coincide with Humane’s efforts to refocus on building its multimodal AI platform, envisioned to transform humanity’s interaction with computing. While acknowledging the difficulty of such decisions, Bongiorno extended gratitude to the 10 departing team members. Despite these layoffs, Humane maintains it is simultaneously hiring new talent.

Patrick Gates, the former Chief Technology Officer at Humane, transitions to an advisory role, a decision framed as a means to spend more time with family. However, a source told The Verge that the layoffs were part of cost-reduction efforts, indicating tightened budgets for the company.

Humane, known for its revolutionary AI Pin, has faced challenges since its product launch in November, including limited media engagement and a criticized MSNBC ‘Squawk Box’ appearance. The AI Pin, a screenless wearable with GPT-4 LLM integration, aims to wean humanity off smartphones and reconnect with the physical world.

As Humane navigates these organizational changes, its path remains focused on reshaping the AI wearable industry, despite the challenges of a small-scale staff reduction and the complexities of aligning its ambitious vision with operational realities.