Friend releases a second AI necklace that can talk out loud

In short: Friend has announced a second version of its AI companion necklace, and it can now speak responses out loud.

What happened

Friend, the company led by CEO Avi Schiffmann, announced the new version of its Friend necklace. The first version was an always-listening wearable that replied to you through text messages. The new version adds a speaker on the back, so the device can talk back in a voice.

Friend says the pendant also uses OpenAI’s latest models (the software “brain” that generates the responses). The added speaker changes the shape of the device, since the underside is bulkier than before.

This version costs $249, up from $129 for the original. Friend also offers an optional $10 per month subscription that lets the device remember your conversations for longer than 30 days. Without that, its memory is shorter, like a diary that only keeps the last few pages.

Unlike the first pendant, each new device comes with a random voice and personality already set. Users cannot change the voice, name, or personality, so you are effectively “assigned” a Friend.

Schiffmann told Wired he sold the first run of 5,000 pendants and is aiming to sell 50,000 of the new version. He also said the company may pull the product from the European Union because complying with GDPR, the region’s data privacy rules, could make it too expensive to sell there.

Why it matters

Devices like this raise practical questions for everyday use, including price, privacy, and how comfortable people feel wearing something that is always listening. The fact that you cannot change the voice or personality may also affect whether people see it as a helpful companion or an awkward fit.

Source: Wired