A new AI-powered wearable device called Friend is making waves in the tech world, offering users an always-listening companion that hangs around their neck. Created by 21-year-old entrepreneur Avi Schiffmann, the pendant-shaped gadget aims to provide companionship rather than boost productivity, setting it apart from recent failed attempts at AI wearables.
Schiffmann, known for his previous projects including a COVID-19 tracking website, unveiled the Friend during a visit to WIRED’s San Francisco office. The device, powered by Anthropic’s Claude 3.5 language model, listens to conversations and offers commentary, encouragement, and friendly banter through text messages and notifications on a paired smartphone.
Unlike productivity-focused AI wearables that have struggled to gain traction, Friend is designed purely for companionship. Schiffmann believes that people are more interested in emotional connections than increased efficiency, stating, “Productivity is over, no one cares.”
The Friend boasts a 15-hour battery life and comes in various colors reminiscent of early iMac computers. Priced at $99, it’s available for preorder with shipping expected to begin in January 2025. Schiffmann claims there are no current plans for a subscription model.
However, the always-listening nature of the device has raised privacy concerns among experts. Petter Bae Brandtzæg, a professor at the University of Oslo, warns that AI companions often foster more intimate conversations than human relationships, potentially leading to privacy issues.
Jodi Halpern, a bioethics professor at UC Berkeley, expresses concern that relying on AI companionship could limit people’s willingness to form human relationships and hinder the development of empathy. She likens it to “a starving person eating junk food,” providing short-term satisfaction without true nourishment.
Schiffmann acknowledges the potential backlash but remains confident in his vision. He emphasizes that Friend will not store audio recordings or transcripts, and users can modify or delete stored memories.
As AI technology continues to evolve, the Friend represents a bold step into uncharted territory, blurring the lines between human and artificial companionship. While it promises to alleviate loneliness, it also raises important questions about privacy, emotional dependency, and the future of human relationships in an increasingly AI-driven world.
