Friend's $249 AI pendant talks back — and you can't change its personality
avi schiffmann released the $249 friend pendant with a voice speaker and fixed personalities. the shift from text to voice and randomization impacts user autonomy in ai companionship.
avi schiffmann launched the second iteration of the friend ai wearable, featuring a speaker for voice interactions at a price of $249. the device runs on openai's latest models but restricts user control by assigning a random, unchangeable personality and voice to each unit. an optional $10 subscription extends the ai's memory beyond 30 days, marking a shift from the original $129 text-only model. schiffmann continues to market the device despite previous controversies over its dystopian implications.