Newcomer Podcast
Humane’s HP Exit & the Foundation Model Slugfest
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.
24:26
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Quick takeaways
- Humane's acquisition by HP highlights the challenges of tech launches, emphasizing the need for managing expectations in innovative product development.
- The podcast discusses the shift in Silicon Valley towards efficiency in startups, raising concerns about job losses alongside technological advancement.
Deep dives
Acquisition of Humane: A Mixed Outcome
HP's acquisition of Humane for $116 million highlights a significant but mixed outcome for the company, which had raised over $230 million in funding. The rollout of their AI pin was highly anticipated due to their team’s background with Apple, but ultimately failed to meet the hype, demonstrating the importance of managing expectations in tech launches. Despite the disappointment, some industry insiders view this acquisition as a strategic move to integrate AI talent into HP, potentially as a savvy acqui-hire rather than solely for the AI pin product itself. The case of Humane underscores risks associated with launching new hardware in the competitive technology landscape, especially in the burgeoning field of AI devices.
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