The hardware update marks a pivot from the device's previous text-only functionality. A promotional video released this morning highlights the pendant’s new ability to discuss personal life problems aloud, shifting the user experience from silent messaging to vocal interaction. Schiffmann, who previously courted public attention by attending protests against his own product’s influence on human dependency, is framing this iteration as "Friend 2.0."
Friend AI pendant returns with a voice and a steeper price tag
After spending $1.8 million to secure its domain and blanketing New York City subways in marketing, the controversial Friend pendant is back on the market. Founder Avi Schiffmann has re-introduced the wearable AI, which now features a built-in speaker for real-time conversation at a price of $249—nearly double the original cost.
Despite the branding shift, the product remains listed simply as "Friend" on the company’s website. The price hike to $249 arrives just nine months after the company faced significant local backlash in New York, where critics targeted the firm’s aggressive advertising and the broader societal implications of artificial companionship. Whether the addition of voice capabilities justifies a $120 premium remains the central question for a company that has already burned through the majority of its initial $2.5 million funding.
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