AI Pendant Maker Friend Launches $249 V2 With Built-In Speaker
Friend, the AI wearable startup founded by Avi Schiffmann, has released an updated pendant priced at $249, up from the original $99. The new version features an integrated speaker allowing verbal communication, alongside its always-on microphone. While positioned as a digital companion to combat isolation, the hardware has drawn skepticism regarding privacy and the psychological impact of AI relationships.
Key points
- Avi Schiffmann, the founder of the AI startup Friend, announced the release of the company's updated wearable device.
- The new Friend pendant is priced at $249, marking a significant increase from the original version's $99 launch price two years prior.
- The updated hardware introduces a built-in speaker and an always-on microphone, enabling verbal conversations through the device's randomized AI personality.
- Promotional material for the device depicts users discussing personal topics, such as relationships and career ambitions, directly with the necklace.
- Critics and industry observers note that the product's marketing deliberately embraces controversy, while raising questions about the safety of emotional reliance on AI.
Avi Schiffmann, founder of the AI hardware startup Friend, has announced a relaunch of the company's controversial wearable pendant. Originally introduced two years ago as a text-based companion, the device has been overhauled to include a built-in speaker alongside its always-on microphone. This hardware update allows the circular pendant to verbally respond to users using a randomized AI personality, shifting away from app-based push notifications.
The updated Friend pendant carries a retail price of $249, a substantial increase from the $99 price point of the initial model. Promotional videos released for the product depict users discussing personal scenarios, such as former relationships and creative projects, with the algorithm-driven necklace. According to Schiffmann, the device is intended to function as an independent confidant rather than a traditional assistant or romantic partner.
The product's development has drawn scrutiny from technology analysts and commentators regarding privacy concerns and the psychological implications of using artificial intelligence for emotional support. Reports indicate that Schiffmann has deliberately leaned into negative public reception to drive engagement, maintaining that the controversial positioning is a calculated aspect of the brand's marketing strategy.
Sources
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