It’s becoming increasingly difficult not to think that the Humane AI Pin is destined to be one of the worst stinks in tech history and the subject of alarm. The company is now recalling the charge case after reviews questioning its reason for existence, returns exceeding sales, and a warning that the charge case could pose a “fire safety risk.” This issue is due to battery cells in cases provided by third-party vendors that can overheat and pose a fire hazard.
Humane posted Thursday that it was conducting the voluntary recall “out of an abundance of caution.” The company says the charging case is the only accessory affected, not the battery booster, charging pad, or the pin itself. “This issue is limited to the battery cells used in the charging case accessory,” Humane wrote. “It has nothing to do with hardware design.”
The company blamed one of its battery suppliers. “Our investigation has determined that the battery supplier no longer meets our quality standards and that the battery cells supplied by this vendor may pose a fire hazard,” Humane wrote. are. The company says it has terminated its relationship with the supplier and is currently considering a new supplier.
Hayato Huseman for Engadget
To be humanely fair, this recall was the result of a single incident in which (to use that phrase) a user connected a third-party USB-C cable to a power source. There have been no reports of injuries or damage. It’s easy to make fun of an overhyped company for dropping the other shoe, but at least keep consumers informed and conduct a voluntary recall instead of trying to bury it for PR. That’s it. Perhaps Humane can look to Samsung for inspiration on how to bounce back from a product that caught fire, but not in a good way.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) posted a detailed blurb regarding the recall. Consumers who purchased the Charge Case separately will receive a $149 refund. Those who got the case as part of the Humane AI Pin Complete System will receive a $129 refund. Additionally, Humane plans to offer a replacement charging case, but don’t expect it to arrive anytime soon. Expected wait time is 3 to 6 months. According to the CPSC, approximately 10,500 machines are affected.
Humane advises charging case owners not to throw the product in the trash, but to “dispose of it in accordance with local and state laws.” Perhaps to avoid an actual dumpster fire comparable to the metaphorical one at Humane.
