Humane is facing challenges and reshaping itself, showcasing the exciting AI Pin as a driving force for its future.
Humane announced this week that it was laying off 4% of its workforce, calling the move a cost-cutting measure, according to people familiar with the matter. Employees were recently told by management that financials would be reduced this year, according to a person who asked to remain anonymous to speak without the company’s permission.
The layoffs totaled 10 people and came before the five-year-old company released its first device: an AI-validated, screenless pin that's pitched as a smartphone replacement and costs $699. After much anticipation and secrecy, Humane unveiled the AI Pin in November and began accepting pre-orders, with shipments starting in March.
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It has raised over $200 million from various Silicon Valley investors , including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. CEO Bethany Bongiorno and her husband, Imran Chaudhri, founded the company in 2019 after long careers at Apple.
When I asked her for a statement for the story, Bongiorno instead took to LinkedIn to describe the cuts as “part of a broader refresh of our organizational structure as the company evolves for the next phase of growth.” In her post, she announced that founding CTO Patrick Gates “will also transition to a consulting role in order to spend more time with his family.” She also said that the company had promoted new hardware, software , and human resources leaders as part of a reorganization.
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Via text message, Bongiorno told me that the cuts were not “communicated as layoffs” to those affected, despite sources confirming that they were made — both verbally and in writing. “It goes without saying that, like any company, we have a responsibility to remain agile and proactive, ensuring that we have the right roles, the right people and the right structure at all times,” she said.
Source of information: https://www.theverge.com
