Humane Ai Pin ‘Bricked’ and Hacked Back to Life: The Rise of a $700 Device

The Humane Ai Pin, a $700 wearable AI device, was officially bricked by the company on February 28, 2025, following a series of failures. However, a group of hackers quickly unlocked the device by obtaining an internal certificate, bypassing the shutdown. Initially released in April 2024, the Pin promised futuristic features but failed to deliver, leading to its discontinuation. Despite its poor performance, a dedicated community of users continued tinkering with the device, hoping to revive it. Some wanted to use it as a screen-free smartphone replacement. Humane employees expressed frustration over the breach, but hackers remained determined to push the Pin’s potential. Ultimately, the hack marked a new chapter for the device, with hopes of a functional revival.

Humane Ai Pin ‘Bricked’ and Hacked Back to Life: The Rise of a $700 Device

The Humane Ai Pin, which was bricked by the company on February 28, 2025, was quickly revived by a group of hackers. Humane had shut down its servers, rendering the $700 device useless after less than a year on the market. Despite the shutdown, hackers, including some key members of the community, managed to bypass the authentication and unlock the device.

Released in April 2024, the Humane Ai Pin was a much-anticipated device that failed to meet expectations. It was designed as a wearable gadget with AI capabilities, offering features like photo capture, text display, and even holographic laser projections. However, the Pin’s functionality was lacking, and it quickly became a flop, with more returns than sales. Humane later announced the device would be discontinued, and services shut down, leaving few options for owners.

As the shutdown loomed, a group of devoted fans on platforms like Discord started working together to hack the device. The challenge was complicated by the lack of clear ports on the Pin, but determined users, like Marcel, managed to create custom cables and connect their Pins to computers. While some succeeded in physically accessing the device, they still faced hurdles due to the need for an authentication certificate to unlock the operating system.

Just when it seemed all hope was lost, an insider allegedly provided the group with an internal certificate that granted them access to the Pin. In a chaotic Discord chat, users celebrated as the device came to life, even projecting a music video on the user’s hand. This move sparked excitement in the community, as many wanted to continue using the Pin as a smartphone replacement, without relying on a screen.

Despite the successful hack, Humane’s employees expressed frustration over the breach, warning that it could lead to intellectual property violations. The company had been working on an official solution to unlock the devices, but the hacking community’s actions might have delayed or derailed that effort.

Ultimately, the hackers’ goal was to revive the device and create a truly functional smartphone replacement, offering features like photo and video capture and interactions without a screen. For many in the community, the Ai Pin represented a return to a more direct, screen-free way of engaging with technology. This vision was about reclaiming a more natural and hands-on interaction with tech, unburdened by the constant need to stare at a smartphone screen.

The Ai Pin’s potential to allow users to capture memories, communicate, and perform tasks using intuitive, AI-powered commands made it a promising alternative to traditional smartphones. Many enthusiasts, frustrated by the device’s premature end, were determined to unlock its capabilities and push it further, transforming it into a device that could truly change the way people interact with technology in their everyday lives. Their efforts were driven by a desire to see the Pin fulfill its original promise of seamless, screenless communication and interaction.