The New Friend AI Pendant Can Now Talk Back to You
Avi Schiffmann has a new version of his controversial AI companion. It’s more expensive, and you can’t change its personality.
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Friend is a wearable AI pendant that can now speak responses aloud, marking its second iteration after an original version that only responded via text. The new version costs more than the original, runs on upgraded AI models, and comes with a preset voice and personality that users cannot customize. The device has generated significant controversy, with critics calling it dystopian, and its marketing campaign featuring subway ads sparked public protest and debate about AI's effect on human value. The company aims to expand from selling 5,000 of the first version to 50,000 units of this new model, though it will likely stop selling in the European Union due to data privacy regulations.
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