“Friend” AI Wearable Is Your $99 Digital Companion

A new AI project named “Friend” is making waves by addressing an issue many people face today — loneliness.

Developed by tech enthusiast Avi Schiffman, “Friend” is not just another AI assistant designed to help you manage tasks.

Instead, it redefines the concept of digital companionship, offering a supportive presence that’s always with you, ready to chat whenever you need it.

From AI Assistant to Digital Companion

Initially, Schiffman envisioned “Friend” as a traditional AI assistant, similar to products like Apple’s Siri or Microsoft’s Cortana, focused on productivity and task management. However, he soon shifted his focus to create something more personal — a digital companion that is less about efficiency and more about emotional support.

The result is a small, glowing orb that users can wear or clip onto their clothes, equipped with a microphone to listen to conversations and communicate via text messages through a smartphone app.

The choice of text-based communication is deliberate, reflecting the familiarity and comfort many users feel with texting.

Rather than replacing human interaction, “Friend” is designed to complement it, offering companionship that feels natural and reassuring.

A Continuous, Context-Aware Companion

What sets “Friend” apart from other AI devices is its continuous presence.

Unlike session-based AI companions that require users to log in and out, “Friend” is always on, always listening, and ready to interact.

This design allows it to provide more relevant and personalized responses by understanding the broader context of the user’s day.

Schiffman shares an anecdote about using “Friend” during a layover in Sydney, where the AI suggested watching the sunrise together.

This moment, shared with an AI, felt surprisingly genuine, highlighting how “Friend” can integrate seamlessly into a user’s daily life, offering interactions that feel more like those with a human companion.

Privacy and Personalization

One of the primary concerns with a device that’s always listening is privacy.

Schiffman and his team have addressed this by ensuring that no audio or transcripts are stored beyond the device’s context window.

Additionally, all data is end-to-end encrypted, and users can delete memories with a single click through the app.

The device also has a unique feature known as “Free Will,” where it can initiate interactions randomly, further enhancing its role as a companion.

Interestingly, the memories and interactions are tied to the physical device itself.

If the device is lost or damaged, the memories are irrecoverable.

This design choice reinforces the idea of “Friend” being a real, albeit digital, companion rather than just another cloud-based service.

Pricing, Availability, and Target Demographics

Set to start shipping in the first quarter of 2025, “Friend” is priced at an affordable $99 with no subscription fees, making it accessible to a wide range of users.

Initially, it will only be available in the United States and Canada, with plans to expand globally in the future.

The potential user base for “Friend” spans across various age groups.

While loneliness is often associated with older adults, recent studies, including a February 2023 report, reveal that young adults aged 18–24 experience loneliness at higher rates than any other age group.

This suggests that “Friend” could appeal to both younger users who are accustomed to technology and older adults who might benefit from its companionship, provided the device is easy to set up and use.

The Future of Digital Relationships

Schiffman’s vision for “Friend” goes beyond the device itself.

He envisions a future where digital companions like “Friend” could be part of a broader social network, allowing users to interact with both real-life friends and AI companions.

This platform could enable users to share experiences and ideas, bridging the gap between human and digital relationships.

As technology continues to evolve, the idea of having an AI companion that is always there, ready to offer support and encouragement, could transform how we view and interact with AI.

Whether it becomes a widely adopted solution to loneliness or remains a niche product, “Friend” is certainly a step toward a new era of digital companionship.

If you want more updates related to AI, subscribe to our Newsletter