At CES 2025, the Swiss technology startup **Natura Umana** introduced its newest creation, the **Humanpods**, adding to the rising trend of minimalist technology aimed at diminishing our reliance on smartphones. This movement, which features products like the **Rabbit R1** and the **Humane Pin**, aims to transform our engagement with technology by providing stylish, hands-free alternatives. Natura Umana’s Humanpods promise a customized AI-driven experience that could mitigate the ceaseless dopamine-driven scrolling tied to continuous phone usage.
Though skepticism is understandable given the varied success of similar devices, our practical experience with the Humanpods indicates that Natura Umana may be onto something worthwhile.
### What Are Humanpods?
The Humanpods function on **NatureOS**, a companion application available for both iOS and Android. This app links the voice-activated earbuds to an AI assistant, enabling users to engage with “AI People”—virtual entities created to mimic human interactions. Presently, there are three AI personalities accessible:
– **Athena**, a fitness coach
– **Hector**, a mental health professional
– **Nature**, an all-around assistant
Each AI boasts its distinct personality, and during our demonstration, we could effortlessly toggle between them or even allow them to converse with each other. Remarkably, the Humanpods also integrate with other significant language models such as **ChatGPT**, **Claude AI**, and **Gemini**, negating the requirement to open distinct applications.
### Designed for All-Day Comfort
Natura Umana’s founder **Carlo Edoardo Ferraris** highlighted that the Humanpods are crafted for all-day usage, stating, “The aim is for users to wear them in the morning and forget about them.” To achieve this, the earbuds employ Natura’s patented **”Gravity Hooks,”** ensuring a secure and comfortable fit. While initial comfort levels were noteworthy during our demonstration, the long-term wearability still needs further evaluation.
### Performance and Sound Quality
The audio experience of the Humanpods was impressive, even amidst the lively atmosphere of the Caesars Palace convention center. The AI assistant operated effectively in noisy conditions, although there were instances of lag and confusion when several voices were detected within the earbuds’ proximity. Notwithstanding these minor troubles, the overall functionality appeared encouraging.
### Privacy Concerns
With several AIs intended to gain personalized insights about users, concerns regarding privacy are naturally significant. Natura Umana asserts that all sensitive information is stored locally and only with explicit user consent, potentially easing some of these concerns.
### Availability and Pricing
The Humanpods currently lack a definitive launch date, but Ferraris expressed optimism regarding a release in **Q1 2025**. As for cost, the company aspires to keep the price reasonable, aiming for around **$100**, similar to the more affordable Apple AirPods.
If you’re keen on experiencing them, you can sign up for the waitlist on Natura Umana’s official site.
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**Mashable is reporting live from CES 2025, bringing you the latest and most exciting news from the event. Stay tuned for further updates throughout the week!**