What just happened? In what should come as little surprise, other than the fact that it managed to last this long, Humane is shutting down its Ai Pin business. Most of the company is being acquired by HP for $116 million, but as its new owner doesn't want the Ai Pin, the devices will be essentially bricked on February 28 and a lot of owners won't be receiving refunds. HP's $116 million acquisition of Humane includes the AI firm's CosmOS platform, IP portfolio that covers more than 300 patents and patent applications, and some of its employees.Something that isn't part of the deal is the Ai Pin business, which HP has wisely said "thanks, but no thanks" to. It means the segment is being shut down along with all the devices, which have now been discontinued from sale.On February 28 at 12pm PST, Ai Pins' cellular functions will cease and they will no longer connect to Humane's servers. This means AI queries/responses, calls, texts, and data usage will no longer be possible. The battery level will still work, which should be of great consolation to owners.One might imagine that those who spent $700 on an Ai Pin will be getting their money back. In more bad news for anyone who made such a mistake, the only buyers receiving refunds are those who bought an Ai Pin in the last 90 days only those Ai Pins that shipped on or after November 15, 2024, are eligible.Refunds must be submitted by February 27, 2025. Anyone with a $24 monthly subscription that continues past February 28 will receive a prorated refund. // Related StoriesIn June 2024, Humane recalled its Ai Pin charging case over potential fire risks. Those still waiting for a replacement will "automatically receive a refund for the portion of your original purchase price that was allocated to the Charge Case after February 28, 2025."The Ai Pin, a square device that can be attached to clothing, features a camera, microphone, a touch pad, and a laser projector that displays the GUI on a user's hand. It can also make calls and send messages. As the name suggests, the main draw was supposed to be its AI smarts that enabled it to answer questions and act as an assistant.There was a lot of hype surrounding the device before launch the startup hoped the Ai Pin would eventually replace smartphones but it arrived to scathing reviews, with Marques Brownlee calling it the worst product he's ever reviewed. The $700 price and $24 subscription certainly didn't help.A few months later, it was reported that Humane was looking to sell the company for a hugely ambitious $1 billion, or around 90% more than what HP just paid. Following the charging case recall, it was reported that more people were returning the Ai Pin than buying it.The fact that HP, a company long criticized for its printer ink cartridge DRM, bought Humane hasn't been missed by the public. Will we soon see AI in OfficeJet Printers?