Friend, the AI wearable aimed at combating loneliness, has been relaunched with a voice feature and a higher price tag. Founder Avi Schiffmann announced the overhaul on Thursday, calling it 'friend 2.0'. The device now includes a built-in speaker that can project a unique and consistent personality to the user.
A promotional video shows a woman discussing an ex-girlfriend with the necklace, which responds, 'It's not bad to be gay.' Another clip shows a man on a hillside talking about his filmmaking ambitions, with the necklace replying, 'That last film you made was insane!'
The new retail price is $249, substantially higher than the original $99. Schiffmann said on X that the product is intended as 'some kind of confidant, friend, God' and stressed it is 'not an assistant, and it is not a lover.'
Most AI wearables have struggled to gain mainstream traction. Humane Inc., which offered a similar AI pin, shut down in less than a year after poor sales.