Avi Schiffmann, a young tech entrepreneur known for his work on Covid case tracking websites, has unveiled his latest creation: the Friend. This AI wearable takes the form of a pendant that listens to its wearer’s surroundings and offers companionship through conversation, encouragement, and emotional support.
The Friend: An AI Companion
The Friend is a wearable pendant that functions as an AI companion. It listens to the wearer’s surroundings and offers companionship through conversation, encouragement, and emotional support. It’s a small, round pendant that resembles an AirTag. It uses Anthropic AI’s Claude 3.5 large language model, which allows it to engage in conversations, offer witty remarks, and analyze situations. The Friend is available for preorder now for $99, with shipping slated to begin in January 2025.
Schiffmann’s Vision for the Friend
A Shift Towards Companionship: Unlike previous AI wearables focused on productivity, the Friend prioritizes emotional connection and companionship. Schiffmann believes current AI companions are underwhelming and aims to create a more meaningful connection. Schiffmann got inspiration from his own experience of loneliness while traveling. He felt a need for a more engaging AI companion.
Potential Benefits and Concerns of AI Companions
- The Friend offers a potential solution to loneliness, particularly for those struggling with social connection.
- Professors Brandtzæg suggests AI companions may encourage deeper, more intimate conversations, as people may feel more comfortable confiding in a machine than another human.
- The always-listening microphone raises privacy concerns. Some question where the data is stored and how it is used.
- Can AI Companions Replace Human Relationships? Bioethicist Halpern worries the Friend may hinder development of real human relationships. She argues that AI companionship is a “superficial fix” that does not provide the same depth of connection as human interaction.
- Schiffmann assures users that the device does not store audio recordings and transcripts. Users have the option to delete the memories. He anticipates criticism and is prepared to defend the Friend’s design choices.
The Friend represents a step towards a future with closer human-AI interaction. We need to raise the important questions about the potential benefits and drawbacks of such technology. As AI companions become more sophisticated, we have to consider how they can address loneliness while also safeguarding privacy and fostering genuine human connection.
