Companion, not therapist! Meet 'Friend,' a tiny AI wearable designed to overcome loneliness; check price
Tech lovers have a reason to celebrate! An all new AI wearable has been introduced by US-based friend.com. Created by Avi Schiffmann, ¡®Friend¡¯ is a pendant-sized device which has been developed to deal with loneliness. Instead of focusing on productivity and multitasking, it offers emotional companionship in the form of supportive presence to the wearer.??
A few months ago, AI wearables like the Humane AI Pin and Rabbit R1 were launched, which failed to impress users. While the AI Pin and R1 aimed to boost productivity and handle various tasks, Schiffman¡¯s Friend is something which focuses on EQ.
This pendant-sized device listens to your conversations and provides real-time commentary and support via text messages and push notificationsThe device is designed to develop a personality that aligns with the user. Friend is essentially an AI chatbot that can cheer you on, discuss a movie after you've watched it, or help analyze why a party wasn¡¯t a hit.
How to wear ¡®Friend¡¯ and what are its functions?
The device, resembling the size and shape of an AirTag, is meant to be worn around the neck. The CEO describes Friend as ¡®a pal¡¯ or ¡®a buddy.¡¯ Essentially an AI chatbot housed within a small pendant, Friend provides opinions on everything happening around it. According to the promotional video from the company, this affable chatbot communicates with the user through text messages and push notifications on the paired smartphone.
In an interview with Wired, Schiffman highlighted that 'always listening' is a key feature of the device. The small gadget includes a microphone that continuously listens to the surroundings by default. To ask a question, the wearer needs to tap and hold the device. Additionally, it provides commentary on conversations the user has with people around him/her.
What is the price of ¡®Friend¡¯?
Utilizing Anthropic AI¡¯s Claude 3.5 model, Friend aims to be a constant, supportive presence in the wearer¡¯s life and is available for preorder at $99 (Rs 8,300 approx) and it will be shipped in January 2025. It comes in different colors and has around 15 hours of battery life.
The startup, which reportedly raised $2.5 million, purchased the domain Friend.com for $1.8 million. The founder claims this was a strategic move to reduce future marketing costs by having an easy-to-find website.
While the device is motivational it is not designed to be a therapist
The device has been designed to help engage in conversations that are motivational and encouraging but it will not function as a therapist. According to Schiffman, Friend is simply an AI companion for conversation and nothing more.
'Friend' has generated conflicted feelings among a section of the internet?
Ever since the launch, many people are discussing the device and drawing comparisons to the dystopian series Black Mirror. Many are even calling it unsettling. The idea that 'Friend' is always listening and, according to its terms of service and privacy disclosures, collects information like names, billing addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers, it¡¯s a bit like having an overly-attached friend with a penchant for surveillance. It can even send unsolicited messages, such as a random "Good luck on your interview!" or "She¡¯ll never go for you." In the end, it¡¯s a personal choice for users to decide if they are comfortable with the level of intrusion and data collection.??
About Avi Schiffman
As per reports, Schiffman is a Harvard dropout known for creating a Covid-19 tracking website that won a Webby Award. He has raised $2.5 million (Rs 20 crore approx) in funding at a $50 million(Rs 418 crore approx) valuation from various investors.
