Despite the layoffs, Humane is still actively hiring and is trying to redirect its efforts. Co-founder Bethany Bongiorno insists the cuts were not communicated as layoffs, but as a "wider refresh of our organizational structure." The company, which has raised $200 million in funding, faces uncertainty about the success of its AI Pin due to its unique design and significant trade-offs.
Key takeaways:
- Startup Humane, which is developing an AI-powered assistant called "AI Pin," has announced it is laying off ten people, or about four percent of its workforce.
- The layoffs come months before the AI Pin is set to start shipping to customers, and amid reports of budget cuts and a wider restructuring at the company.
- Humane co-founder Bethany Bongiorno has disputed the characterization of the job cuts as layoffs, saying the company is still hiring and the cuts were part of a "wider refresh of our organizational structure."
- Despite raising $200 million in funding, there is uncertainty about the future of Humane and its AI Pin, due to the device's unconventional design and the company's recent layoffs.