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Humane Announces 4% Workforce Reduction, Including CTO, in Strategic Tech Realignment
At the CES 2024 conference in Las Vegas, Amazon unveiled a new feature similar to Apple’s AirPlay. Apple AirPlay is a proprietary wireless communications protocol available only on Apple devices, but Amazon’s latest product is designed to work seamlessly across platforms. This service is available to users on both iPhone and Android devices so can wirelessly stream video and other content to Amazon TV hardware.
Media reported that Humane laid off four percent of its workforce this week, a move ostensibly to cut costs for those affected, according to media sources familiar with the situation. Company leaders recently informed employees that the budget would be cut this year, according to an anonymous source.
The 10-person network precedes the fifth anniversary of the startup shipping its first device: a $699, screenless, AI-powered pin being pitched as a smartphone replacement. After much speculation and secrecy, Hyundai unveiled the AI PIN to the world in November and began taking pre-orders, with shipping scheduled to begin in March.
Humane raised more than $200 million from the who’s-who of Silicon Valley, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. CEO Bethany Bongiorno and her husband Imran Chaudhry launched the company in 2019 after a long career at Apple.
After I asked Bongiorno to state this issue, he instead took to LinkedIn to describe the cuts as “part of a comprehensive renewal of our organizational structure as our company evolves to build on its' eyes for this next phase of development”.
In the post, he announced that founding CTO Patrick Gates “will also move into a consultant role to spend more time with family”. He said the company has encouraged additional hardware, software, and human resources as part of the new strategy.
In a text message, Bongiorno told me those affected “were not told how it was cut as a layoff,” although sources tell me it was verbally and in writing “It goes without saying that like any company we have a responsibility to have the right roles, the right people and the right process Let’s make sure we remain nimble and proactive.”
Founded in 2019 by CEO Bethany Bonziorno and her husband Imran Chaudhry, Humane has raised more than $200 million in funding from notable Silicon Valley figures, including OpenA CEO Sam Altman. In November, the startup made headlines when it launched its first product, the AI Pin smartphone. A standalone screenless device as a replacement. The $699 AI-powered device is available for pre-order and is scheduled to begin shipping in March.
The staff reductions at Humane underscore the pragmatic way companies often adopt its economic realities that reflect stages of growth. As the company streamlines its organizational structure, it aims to be on track for the next phase of growth and strike a balance between fiscal responsibility and forward-looking innovation.
Conclusion:
The recent appointments at Humane highlight the growth in technology, where companies continue to accelerate to succeed. The departure of 4% of employees, including the CTO, is a significant boost, prompting industry observers to take a closer look at Humane’s next phase in terms of product development, market positioning, and overall company strategy.