The well-known Avi Schiffmann, famous for creating the first website that tracked COVID-19 cases in real-time, has taken a new turn in his career. After leaving Harvard University, the 21-year-old Schiffmann has launched "Friend," an artificial intelligence wearable designed to act as a constant companion.
Schiffmann rose to fame in 2020 by developing a crucial tool during the pandemic, earning him a Webby Award. In recent years, he also launched a platform to help Ukrainian refugees find housing in neighboring countries. Now, his focus is on a different market: AI wearables, hoping to surpass the failures of similar products like the Humane AI Pin and Rabbit R1.
An "AI Companion"
"Friend" is a device worn as a pendant, consisting of a microphone and an internal battery, designed to connect to an iPhone. Its launch price is $99, and although it currently doesn't require a subscription, this could change due to the intensive use of the Claude 3.5 chatbot from Anthropic, which might demand significant computational resources.
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The device is designed to constantly listen to the user and provide responses through its mobile app, reminiscent of the interaction seen in the movie 'Her.' Unlike other devices that offer a wide range of functions, "Friend" focuses exclusively on being a conversational companion, similar to the Replika platform, albeit with the peculiarity of constant active listening.
Schiffmann has raised $2.5 million from notable investors like Raymond Tonsing of Caffeinated Capital, Cory Levy, founder of Z Fellows, and several other prominent figures in the technology and entrepreneurship industry. The company will begin accepting pre-orders for its basic white version, with shipments expected in January 2025.
Challenges and Controversies
The launch of "Friend" has sparked debates about the implications of having a device that constantly listens. Although Schiffmann assures that no audio recordings or transcripts are stored and that users can delete any records, concerns persist about privacy and potential emotional dependency on the technology.
The device is not intended to be a therapeutic or productivity tool but rather an "emotional toy" to combat loneliness, according to its creator. This proposal has been met with skepticism by some, especially given the precedent of similar products that promised more than they could deliver.
With a focus on emotional connection and constant companionship, "Friend" could represent a breakthrough in how we interact with artificial intelligence. However, public acceptance and the device's commercial success remain to be seen, especially in a market where other AI wearables have failed to capture consumer attention. The launch of this curious device is scheduled for the first quarter of 2025, at which time it will be evaluated if it can fulfill its promises.
