Friend re-launches its AI pendant with a speaker that talks to you, for twice the worth

Do you keep in mind Friend? The Friend that launched an AI pendant, spent $1.8 million of its $2.5 million in funding to accumulate good friend.com, and plastered the NYC subway with advertisements selling synthetic companionship?

Yeah effectively, for those who didn’t keep in mind, Friend is back. And now, it’s twice the worth.

This morning, Friend launched a new ad exhibiting two individuals speaking to their Friend pendants about very private life issues. It didn’t say it explicitly, however the advert showcased a brand new characteristic the pendant now consists of: a speaker. Before, Friend would solely message again to you, however now, it can speak to you, too. For some purpose, the addition of that characteristic is seemingly value $120, because the initially $129 product now prices $249.

The re-launch comes about 9 months after a big Friend protest occurred in NYC, the place protestors tried to deliver consideration to our rising dependance on know-how. Friend was the apparent goal, contemplating it had spent a boatload of cash promoting all through the town. Its founder, Avi Schiffmann, even posted an image selling the protest, and showed up to it himself.

Shiffmann posted a tweet of the brand new advert, calling it “Friend 2.0,” although the product continues to be simply known as “Friend” on its web site. Presumably, that is due to the brand new speaker and the brand new $10 per thirty days subscription, that lets the pendant keep in mind conversations for longer than 30 days.

I’m certain issues will go significantly better this time.