"The wearable looks a bit like an Apple AirTag on a necklace. Friend is designed to be always-on to hear whatever the wearer says (as well as any other noise they're near), use AI to process those inputs, and formulate its own responses, which it then sends via text message to the wearer. "The more you talk to it, the more you build up a relationship with it. And that's really the whole goal of the product," Schiffmann told Fast Company in July 2024."
"The ads-which rolled out on September 25 in the form of more than 11,000 car cards, 1,000 platform posters, and 130 urban panels-are part of a massive outdoor campaign for Friend, a wearable AI company billed as a portable "companion." Since the campaign rolled out, it has received overwhelming criticism from local New Yorkers, with many of the ads being defaced with graffiti calling the product "AI trash," "surveillance capitalism," and a tool to "profit off of loneliness.""
Large black-and-white subway ads in New York displayed servile promises to promote Friend, a wearable AI companion. The campaign deployed over 11,000 car cards, 1,000 platform posters, and 130 urban panels starting September 25. Many ads were defaced with graffiti accusing the product of exploiting loneliness, surveillance capitalism, and being "AI trash." Friend is a necklace-like device that remains always-on, listens to surroundings, processes audio with AI, and sends responses via text. Founder Avi Schiffmann raised about $7 million in venture funding, set a $129 preorder price, and reported roughly 1,000 shipments out of 5,000 sales.
Read at Fast Company
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