Marques Brownlee Humane: Explore His Impact Quiz and Flashcards

Study Notes

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.