New York —
An unassuming circular pendant slightly larger than a quarter has been at the center of a massive uproar. The chief executive behind it isn’t fazed.
Avi Schiffmann, 23, created the Friend pendant to be an artificial intelligence companion for users. He was inspired after realizing that, while he enjoys close friendships, not everyone is so lucky, especially at a time when young men face a loneliness crisis.
The device — which was unveiled in a viral video last year and began shipping to customers this summer — listens to user’s surroundings and conversations, chiming in with advice or general small talk from a smartphone app.
“I think everyone deserves to have a close confidant in their lives that really supports what they’re up to,” Schiffmann told CNN. “I really wanted to bottle up the best relationships I’ve had in my life.”
But the device has struck a nerve with some. Schiffmann’s company spent $1 million to plaster New York City subways with ads this fall, only to have many of them defaced or torn down. To its critics, the Friend encapsulates much of what’s wrong with the tech industry’s push to incorporate AI into our everyday lives, from AI potentially replacing human relationships to privacy and environmental concerns.
“AI is not your friend,” graffiti on o
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