Humane Inc., a startup working on a secretive consumer device that uses AI, unveiled an investment round of $100M.
The company, founded by former Apple executives, also announced "strategic collaborations" with Microsoft and OpenAI, Qualcomm, and SK Networks.
Humane was formed in 2018 by Bethany Bongiorno, a former Apple software engineering director, and Imran Chaudhri, an Apple design director from 1995 to 2016.
- The wife and husband co-founders have yet to disclose what the startup's first product will be, only saying that it involves a "software platform and consumer device built from the ground up for artificial intelligence." The product is due out this spring.
- A patent filing and videos indicate that it could be working on a wearable that would project a display onto a user's surroundings and let them interact with and manipulate that information using "air and touch gestures."
- The company is now partnering with OpenAI to incorporate its AI technology into its device. It will also use Microsoft's cloud for its software services platform.
- "Our first device will enable people to bring AI with them everywhere," Chaudhri said.
Kindred Ventures led the recent Series C round, which included participation from Microsoft and early Human investor Sam Altman, the CEO and founder of OpenAI, among others.
- Humane has now raised at least $230M to date.
