Friend Wants to Be Your AI Companion [Video]

Friend is a new wearable device that wants to be your AI companion, rather than your personal assistant.

Announced by founder Avi Schiffmann, Friend is a round device that can be worn around your neck or clipped to your clothing. It uses a microphone and Bluetooth connectivity to listen to your environment and form its own internal thoughts. You can directly communicate with your 'friend' by pressing on the device and Friend has its own 'free will' to text you when it chooses.




Schiffmann describes the interaction like this...

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It's all about the initial friction to start talking. Super easy to press the light on your chest. There's haptics too so you can do it blind. Means as soon as a thought comes into your head you can share it.

Coupled with always listening means you don't need to give your friend context. Can just walk out a meeting and say "that was crazy" and they understand.

Just makes for a really seamless integration of a digital friend into your life.
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Unlike the Humane AI Pin, Friend isn't trying to perform practical tasks or assist with productivity; instead, it's designed to provide companionship and emotional support. This could make it easier for Friend to find success, as it doesn't face the challenge of executing complex tasks. It's more akin to a Tamagotchi than a multifunctional productivity device.

According to the Friend website, no audio or transcripts are stored beyond your Friend's context window, and all data is end-to-end encrypted. Additionally, all memories can be deleted with a single click within the Friend app. Notably, your Friend and its memories are tied to the physical device. If you lose or damage your Friend, there is no recovery plan available.

Friend is available for pre-order now for $99 with no subscription fee. Orders will start shipping in Q1 2025 on a first-come, first-served basis. For now, Friend is only available in the United States and Canada and requires an iOS device; however, Android support may be added in the future.

Check out the launch video below and let us know what you think of the device in the comments!

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