AI Pendant Revamped: Now Speaks but Comes With Higher Cost
WHO:
The Verge - Avi Schiffmann, the founder of Friend, attended the protest against the AI pendant and promoted it on social media.
Engadget - The AI wearable is called "Friend," created by founder Avi Schiffmann.
TechCrunch - The product is referred to as "Friend" and is marketed as an AI wearable.
WHAT:
The Verge - The Friend pendant's price has increased to $249, which is a $120 increase from its original price of $129.
Wired - The new version of the Friend AI pendant includes a subscription service that allows it to remember conversations for longer than 30 days, costing $10 per month.
Engadget - The new Friend pendant features a speaker and updated models.
TechCrunch - The price of the Friend pendant has increased from $129 to $249.
The Verge - The pendant now includes a subscription service costing $10 per month that allows it to remember conversations for longer than 30 days.
Wired - The new version of the Friend AI companion cannot change its personality.
WHERE:
The Verge - A large protest against Friend took place in New York City (NYC).
WHEN:
The Verge - The re-launch of the Friend pendant occurred approximately nine months after the NYC protest.
WHY:
The Verge - The protest aimed to bring attention to society's growing dependence on technology, with Friend being a focal point due to its extensive advertising.
HOW:
The Verge - The new advertisement for the Friend pendant features two individuals discussing personal life problems with their pendants, highlighting the new speaking feature.
Engadget - The new ad for the Friend pendant showcases two people talking to their pendants about personal life problems, highlighting the new speaking feature.
(UPDATED July 30, 2026 23:20 UTC)
Avi Schiffmann, the founder of Friend, recently attended a protest against the AI pendant and took to social media to promote it. The price of the Friend pendant has now risen to $249, reflecting a significant increase of $120 from its original price of $129, and the latest version includes a subscription service for $10 per month that allows it to remember conversations for longer than 30 days. A new advertisement showcases two individuals discussing personal life challenges with their pendants, emphasizing the enhanced speaking feature.
--
(UPDATED July 30, 2026 22:24 UTC)
A new AI wearable called "Friend," created by founder Avi Schiffmann, has been re-launched with updated models that include a speaker and a subscription service for $10 per month, allowing it to remember conversations for longer than 30 days. The price of the Friend pendant has increased from $129 to $249, and a recent protest in New York City highlighted concerns over society's growing dependence on technology, with Friend being a key focus due to its extensive advertising. The new advertisement for the pendant features two people discussing personal life problems with their devices, emphasizing its speaking capabilities.