Friend AI Wearable Launches Version 2.0 with Voice Feature and Higher Price
Two years after its initial launch at $99, Friend — an AI wearable designed to combat loneliness by offering companionship through conversation — has introduced a new version priced at $249. The updated model features a built-in speaker that allows the device to project voice-based interactions with unique personalities tailored for users. Creator Avi Schiffmann emphasized in social media posts and promotional materials that Friend is not an assistant or lover, but rather something closer to a confidant or even a deity-like figure. Despite its bold marketing approach — including controversial subway billboards last year — the AI wearable market remains largely unproven among mainstream consumers. A similar product from Humane Inc., which aimed to replace smartphones with an AI pin, failed within less than a year due to poor sales.
