Famed YouTuber Marques Brownlee makes a splash not for what he said — but for how

Humane AI's Product Release and Criticism

• Humane AI raised over $230 million in funding before releasing its product, the Ai Pin, which costs $699 plus a $24 monthly subscription
• The product received negative reviews from tech reviewers, including Marques Brownlee (MKBHD), citing issues with battery life, wearability, and reliability
• Brownlee's review, titled "The Worst Product I've Ever Reviewed… For Now," sparked controversy on social media, with some accusing him of being harsh and irresponsible with his influence

Criticism of Marques Brownlee

• Some critics argued that Brownlee's review was unethical and careless, given his large following of 18 million subscribers
• Others defended Brownlee, stating that he was simply doing his job as a reviewer and that his critique was fair and balanced
• The controversy raised questions about the power and responsibility that comes with social media influence

Humane AI and Fisker Comparison

• Both Humane AI and Fisker, an EV startup, faced criticism and negative reviews from Brownlee, which some believed contributed to their financial struggles
• However, both companies had underlying issues, such as poor product quality and financial struggles, that preceded Brownlee's reviews
• The incidents highlight the influence of social media reviewers and the complexity of identifying cause and effect in product failures

Race and Tech Industry Bias

• Some Black techies viewed the criticism of Brownlee through a different lens, arguing that his review was seen as harsh because of his race
• They pointed out that Brownlee's critique of the AI bubble was seen as negative because he is Black, and that there is a double standard in tech when it comes to criticism and accountability### The Power of Influencers in Tech
• Marques Brownlee, a YouTuber known as MKBHD, with over 18 million subscribers, reviewed Humane AI's product, Ai Pin, and called it "The Worst Product I've Ever Reviewed… For Now."
• The review sparked a debate on social media, with some accusing Brownlee of being harsh and irresponsible with his influence.
• Critics argue that Brownlee's review could potentially harm the company, Humane AI, which has raised over $230 million in funding.

The Context of Humane AI

• Humane AI is not a young startup, but rather a company that has raised a Series C round and attracted investors like Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and top venture capital firms.
• The company released its Ai Pin, which costs $699 plus a $24 monthly subscription, and received largely negative reviews from tech reviewers, including Brownlee.

The Critique of Brownlee's Review

• Some critics accused Brownlee of being unethical and irresponsible with his influence, arguing that he should be more careful with his words.
• However, others defended Brownlee's review, saying that it was fair and balanced, and that Brownlee was simply doing his job as a tech reviewer.

Race and Bias in Tech

• Some Black techies viewed the critique of Brownlee's review through a different lens, arguing that if Brownlee were not Black, his review would be seen as honest and critical, rather than harsh and irresponsible.
• The incident highlights biases in the tech industry, where Black people's voices are often dismissed or scrutinized more heavily than those of their white counterparts.

The Impact of Influencers

• Brownlee's review of Humane AI's product sparked a wider conversation about the power of influencers in the tech industry.

• The incident highlights the influence that popular YouTubers and reviewers can have on companies and their products.

• The power of influencers raises questions about responsibility and accountability in tech journalism.### Critique of Marques Brownlee's Review

• Some people think Marques Brownlee should be more gracious in his critique.

• Brownlee's review was criticized for tone policing, a technique used to dismiss what Black people say based on how they deliver their message rather than the content.

Biases in Tech

• Tech has issues with bias against Black people.
• Tech has issues with the media being a critic rather than a cheerleader.
• There is a bias against Black tech media taking a critical stance on popular topics like AI and IoT.

The Power of YouTubers

• A YouTuber is perceived as having the power to make or break a company.
• Marques Brownlee's review was notable for its influence on the tech industry.

Shift in Tech Review Landscape

• In the past, tech reviewers at prominent publications like The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times were the primary sources of opinions on new tech.
• Now, anyone on the internet can have a say, regardless of their institutional affiliation.
• There are many more voices in the tech review space, with hundreds of videos going up on the same product around the same time.