The Cerebral Valley Podcast Humane’s HP Exit & the Foundation Model Slugfest
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Feb 21, 2025 The hosts dive into HP's acquisition of Humane and its poignant implications for former Apple engineers. They explore the pros and cons of voice AI and whether it's time to ditch screens. The conversation shifts to exciting new ventures like Thinking Machine Labs, launched by an ex-OpenAI CTO amid industry upheaval. They also dissect the funding frenzy among AI startups, including Saronic's and Together AI’s major financial boosts, reflecting a booming interest in both AI and defense tech.
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Humane's Acquisition
- Humane, an AI hardware startup with former Apple engineers, was acquired by HP for $116 million.
- This is less than the $230 million raised, but better than expected given the product's poor launch.
Overspending and Hype
- Humane’s failure is comparable to Quibi and Jet, hyped ventures with large funding rounds that didn't justify their scale.
- All three represent a pattern of overspending without proving product-market fit.
AI Hardware's Utility Problem
- Existing devices like smartphones and smartwatches already fulfill many proposed use cases for AI hardware.
- AI hardware startups struggle to demonstrate additional value beyond these incumbents.