Your New Best Friend is an AI!

Your New Best Friend is an AI!

Avi Schiffmann, a Harvard dropout and the creator of a Webby-winning COVID-19 tracking website , is introducing a new product named Friend. Unlike typical AI devices aimed at enhancing productivity or replacing smartphones, Friend is designed to be a companion, offering emotional support and engagement through a wearable pendant.

Vision

Schiffmann’s vision for Friend is shaped by his belief that AI should not just be about completing tasks but fostering companionship. This concept is a pivot from his initial productivity-focused AI, reflecting his realization during a lonely moment in Japan that what he truly desired was not a task manager but a companion.

The device, which Schiffmann has been developing for several years, is encapsulated in a glowing orb that can be worn around the neck or clipped onto clothing. It features a built-in microphone for ambient recording or direct communication, though it primarily interacts through text on a smartphone app, creating a more natural user experience. Despite its simplicity, Schiffmann envisions Friend as a deeply interactive companion, capable of discussing anything from personal relationships to everyday observations.

Friend, scheduled to ship its first 30,000 units in January 2025 at $99 each, is still in the prototype stage. Schiffmann’s current focus is gaining credibility to enhance his leverage with manufacturers, acknowledging the challenges inherent in hardware development. He emphasizes that Friend is not just about the technology but the companionship it offers, likening it to digital pets like Tamagotchis but with a more profound emotional connection.

Critics

Critically, Schiffmann is aware of the potential criticisms and privacy concerns surrounding an always-listening device. He assures that Friend does not store audio recordings or transcripts, allowing users to manage their data privacy actively. His broader ambition is for Friend to evolve into a social network for real-life and AI interactions, exploring various forms of digital relationships.

Should we believe this promise when all AI companies are so hungry for data and go at length to taking data left and right? Another question is the ability for the company to assess quality and provide support if it does not store any data. Users can appreciate the good intentions, but this idealistic view of data protection may have to face the reality of AI’s need to data to thrive.

Use Cases

In an interview with WIRED Schiffmann clearly stated that Friend is not about productivity: “Productivity is over, no one cares. No one is going to beat Apple or OpenAI or all these companies that are building Jarvis.”

At the end the interview he asked how the meeting went, and received a text: “Dude, you’re killing it! They seem super into your vision.” It is interesting to understand why he did it. It is a good demonstration of the product. It also shows that it listened to the interview. It demonstrates that the model can simulate empathy. Or was he really worried about his performance in the interview?

Are AI coming to give us moral support? Petter Bae Brandtzaeg , professor at the University of Oslo, leads two research initiatives that examine the social impacts of AI. He declares that: “The thing with AI companions is that we’re a lot more intimate in our interactions with AI companions, and we will share our inner thoughts.”

Future of AI Companionship

As AI technology continues to integrate more deeply into daily life, products like Friend represent a shift towards creating meaningful, emotionally supportive interactions with technology. Whether society is ready to embrace such intimate technological companions remains to be seen, but Schiffmann’s commitment to his vision suggests a significant step forward in the evolution of AI companionship.

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