After warning customers to stop using it, Humane is now formally recalling around 10,500 units of its charging case for the beleaguered AI Pin. The affected cases were sold from last November through May of this year. According to the CPSC recall page, the lithium polymer battery in the Charge Case Accessory can potentially overheat and present a fire hazard. Humane admitted similar findings in a June email to customers.
That worst-case scenario, thankfully, hasn’t happened yet; the recall notes “one report of a charge case overheating and melting during charging,” but there haven’t been any injuries or damage to property. The AI Pin, its magnetic Battery Booster, and Humane’s charging pad are “not affected,” the company said in its earlier email.
Still, the situation is yet another blemish for Humane’s first product, which got off to a terrible start after a wave of damning reviews, slow sales, and plentiful returns. That 10,500 number is another indication of the AI Pin’s slow-going sales. The company recently lowered the device’s price in an attempt to reverse its fortunes. (The cheaper model no longer includes the charge case.) Humane has also continued releasing software improvements for the wearable gadget. “CosmOS 1.2 is our biggest software update since launch,” the company posted on X this month.
Customers have the option of requesting either a full refund or getting a replacement charge case. If opting for the refund, those who bought it standalone will receive $149, and anyone who got a charge case as part of the AI Pin “complete package” will get $129. Humane’s revised, safer charge case will be available in three to six months, according to the CPSC.
The bigger question is what might happen to the company itself within that timeframe. Will Humane manage to find a buyer? Can it find success putting CosmOS on other products?
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