The new AI hardware gimmick is a $ 99 wearable pendant that is “ always listening ” and will “ talk ” to you about whatever you befall to be doing . It ’s phone Friend , and it ’s the product of Avi Schiffmann , a techno - wunderkind who has spin up some impressive ( albeit , occasionally controversial ) projects in the past . Schiffmann announced the launching of Friend on Tuesday , publishing a video to X to showcase the virtual companion ’s apparent capableness . booster does n’t in reality talk to you . Instead , it texts you , sending little quips to your phone in response to things you might say or do .
enter friend . not imaginary .
order now athttps://t.co/7kGiH5pQVKpic.twitter.com/qU58xNvX5v
© Screenshot/friend.com
— Avi ( @AviSchiffmann)July 30 , 2024
supporter is currently only available for pre - order , and The Vergereportsthat the first slew of chandelier may not in reality ship until next January . Hilariously , it was once gestate by Schiffmannas a “ wearable mom,”which does n’t have quite the same substance abuser - friendly ring to it . “ Friend ” was probably a better branding option . The gimmick was also previously prognosticate “ Tab . ”
The blog , indite by Schiffmann , put forward :
Friend is an formula of how lonely I ’ve feel .
I require to thank all the incredible artists and engineers who have assist me bring this work to life-time over the past year . You have truly afford me a deeper appreciation for the graphics I see in everyday objects .
We ca n’t wait to hear how acquaintance fit into your life . Thanks for mark us out .
AFAQ pageprovides limited insights into the production , but specifies that the pendant pairs with a user ’s smartphone via bluetooth and pull together information on the drug user ’s daily natural action via good recording . The site states : “ When connected via bluetooth , your friend is always mind and take form their own home thoughts . ” Through this data aggregation , the “ booster ” can then get “ thought ” about your activities , which it then shares with you via automate text message .
Presumably the data record by the equipment is stored locally , though there is n’t anything on the site that specifically take the stand to that . The site’sprivacy policyincludes obscure speech around datum collection : “ The personal information that we collect look on the context of your interaction with us and the Services , the choices you make , and the product and lineament you utilize , ” it says . Further down , the policy also claims it does n’t collect any “ sensitive entropy , ” but fail to explain just what qualifies as “ sensitive . ” Gizmodo reached out to the ship’s company for further answers and we ’ll update this mail when we incur a reply .
ally is the belated novelty bestow to us by the AI hardware mart , a subdivision of the broader AI manufacture that hashad a pretty rough go of itso far . First there was Humane , which tried to sell us the “ AI thole , ” a talking wearable meant toreplace the smartphone . The intersection has since beendubbed a “ disaster”and its executives are already seem tosell the society . Then there was the Rabbit R1 , which , despite strong initial buzz , has since been dubbeda “ half - baked ” experimentthat does n’t play as push .
It relieve oneself a sealed amount of good sense that , after these previous stage business fail to give up on lofty promises , Friend might attempt to keep expectations scummy . Still , the product ca n’t help but seem grift - y. It ’s heavy to ideate what the multi - year business organization design for Friend is , since it offers so little in the way of genuine divine service .
likewise , since the gadget ’s master tie seems to be — as Schiffmann has put it — loneliness , and it act a replacement for actual human connexion , wearing such a gimmick would seem to indicate to others that you ’re a bit of a loser . Unlike a “ champion ” or “ Romance language ” chatbot , which you canenjoy from the privacy of your own home , wearing the “ lone wolf amulet ” around your cervix in world may be slimly less appealing to its introspective user base .
If anything , the gimmick seems destined to work out commercially as a short - full term cash - grab fire by Gen - Z irony purchases : “ Look , dude , I got you a Friend — since you desperately need one , haha . ” It may be at this floor of commerce that Friend finds its footing , if at all .
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