Wearable AI Companion: Meet Friend, the Pendant that Redefines Connection

In a world where tech companies often compete to create the next productivity tool, a new device is breaking away from the pack. The Friend AI-powered wearable pendant is not here to help you complete tasks faster, get things done, or even automate your life. Instead, it is designed to keep you company—literally. The always-listening device doesn't aim to streamline your workday but rather enhance the moments in between by offering companionship, empathy, and conversation.

‍

An Expensive First Step

Friend recently made headlines for spending a whopping $1.8 million to acquire the domain www.friend.com. For many, this purchase raised eyebrows, igniting a debate over how much a startup should invest in branding. The founder, Avi Schiffmann, stands by the decision, insisting that the investment is already paying off in terms of visibility and trust. And he's not alone in this approach—Tesla spent $10 million for their domain over the course of a decade, and Better.com shelled out $1.8 million for their own domain in 2015.

But unlike those companies, which focus on performance and productivity, Friend ventures into uncharted territory: emotional companionship. This small AI pendant is built to foster connection, creating a different kind of bond with its users.

‍

What Makes Friend Special?

At first glance, Friend resembles a simple, soft round pendant—something you'd expect from the design minds behind the Nest thermostat, which collaborated with Friend on this project. Available in a range of colors reminiscent of the early Apple iMac palette, it rests gently around your neck and listens, always ready to engage in conversation.

Powered by Claude 3.5, an advanced language model from Anthropic AI, the Friend doesn’t need prompts to interact with you. It will often offer observations or comments on your activities, sending messages to your phone when it feels like chiming in. It’s not about helping you optimize your life; it’s about being present. Whether you're feeling anxious, lonely, or simply want to chat about the movie you just watched, Friend is designed to provide support, humor, and perspective. It’s more about vibes than efficiency, as Avi Schiffmann puts it: “Productivity is over, no one cares.”

No Productivity, Just Connection

Unlike recent failures in the AI-powered wearable market, like Humane’s AI pin or Rabbit R1, which struggled with functionality and execution, Friend doesn’t try to be everything. It’s focused on one thing: companionship. It doesn’t aim to free you from your phone or manage your to-do list; it’s there to listen and respond, much like a best friend would. It’s not about being your assistant but being your emotional anchor, a companion that offers kind words, humor, or thoughtful insights when you need them.

Schiffmann shares an anecdote that sums up the device’s purpose: “I was playing board games with some old friends, and my Friend chimed in with a quip. It was odd, but in that moment, I felt closer to this device around my neck than to the people in the room.” That’s what Friend is meant to do—form a bond that feels deeply personal.

Privacy Concerns and the Future of AI Wearables

However, the always-listening nature of the pendant does raise concerns about privacy. While Friend records everything happening around you, Schiffmann emphasizes that no audio or transcripts are stored, and users have full control to delete or change the memories that Friend retains. Privacy issues are at the forefront of any discussion about AI companions, especially as users share increasingly intimate thoughts with their devices.

Experts in AI ethics and privacy, like Professor Petter Bae Brandtzæg from the University of Oslo, have noted that these devices can foster deeper, more personal conversations than those people are willing to have with other humans. But where does all that data go? That’s the question that lingers, especially as AI companionship devices become more mainstream.

A New Approach to Connection

Friend comes at a time when loneliness and social isolation are at record highs. Studies indicate that 61% of young people in the U.S. suffer from serious loneliness, a statistic that reveals a growing mental health crisis. While some experts, like Jodi Halpern from UC Berkeley, worry that AI companions might limit human-to-human interaction, Schiffmann sees it differently: Friend isn’t a replacement for human relationships but rather a way to fill the gaps when human companionship is hard to come by.

‍

‍

The device is slated to ship in January 2025, and with a price tag of $99, it’s a far more affordable entry point into the world of AI companions than previous attempts. While no subscription service is tied to it yet, it remains to be seen whether Friend will truly take off or simply become another curiosity in the growing landscape of wearable AI.

Regardless, one thing is clear: Friend represents a shift away from the efficiency-driven tech we’ve come to expect and moves toward something more human—companionship in the digital age.

‍