HP acquires Humane to enhance AI capabilities and products

HP has acquired the startup Humane for $116 million to enhance its next generation of products. The focus of this acquisition is not on hardware but on the technology and expertise related to AI capabilities. Tuan Tran, HP's President of Technology and Innovation, stated that Humane's intellectual property and their team’s knowledge of AI and connectivity are key assets. Humane is known for developing CosmosOS, an AI-powered operating system that integrates various AI agents. This system aims to improve personal computing by making devices more smart and interconnected. HP sees this as a strategic move to differentiate its PCs from others, especially as they currently rely heavily on Microsoft’s Windows operating system. The acquisition could benefit HP by allowing it to create a seamless experience across its product ecosystem, which includes brands like Poly and HyperX. This could help HP compete more effectively with companies like Apple that have established strong integration across their devices. Humane first unveiled the AI Pin in late 2023 as an innovative, screen-free device for interacting with AI. Despite initial excitement, the product faced criticism. Now, with Humane's team joining HP, a new innovation lab called HP IQ has been established to focus on future developments. At a recent conference, HP CEO Enrique Lores outlined a vision for future smart devices that would connect automatically. He described a scenario where a user’s PC could seamlessly join a video conference room, recognizing devices and making necessary connections without manual input. This connected ecosystem aims to provide real-time feedback and enhance meeting experiences, showcasing HP's ambitions for the future of AI in personal computing.