AI Wearable Device: Millions of people around the world today use AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Grok to get answers, advice, and communicate. Until now, these tools were accessible through smartphones, laptops, or other screen devices, but technology has now taken a step further. A California-based startup has launched the Friend 2.0 AI Pendant, which, when worn around the neck, communicates with you like a real friend and claims to understand your emotions.
What is Friend 2.0 and how much does it cost?
The company first introduced the Friend AI pendant in 2024. Now, a new and more advanced version, Friend 2.0, has been launched. It is priced at $249 (approximately Rs. 23,752) and can be purchased from the company’s official website. Recognizing the growing loneliness in the digital age, the company is positioning it as a companion that can be with you at all times and provide emotional support through conversation.
What are its special features?
Friend 2.0 is said to be different from traditional voice assistants like Alexa and Siri. The previous model simply listened to your words and responded via text message, but the new version features a built-in speaker, allowing it to directly communicate with you. The most unique feature of this device is that each pendant will have its own unique voice, name, and personality, which the user cannot change. It also features a microphone, touch-sensitive haptics, reactive lighting, USB Type-C charging, and a full-day battery. However, for now, it only works with iPhones.
It will remember conversations, but this is where the controversy began.
More about Friend 2.0: By default, it can remember conversations for up to 30 days. With the company’s subscription plan, it can store your conversations for longer. This feature has raised questions about privacy and data security. It’s worth noting that many users on social media have compared this device to the popular web series Black Mirror and called it a frightening vision of the future. Some believe that replacing humans with AI as emotional companions could create new challenges for society.
Company’s response to criticism
Amidst these criticisms, the company’s 24-year-old founder, Avi Shifman, said that while people may perceive it as Black Mirror-like, they are presenting it in a very simple and human-like manner. He clarified that this AI pendant is neither a task-oriented assistant nor a romantic partner. It is simply a companion with whom people can share their feelings and innermost feelings.