Avi Schiffmann, the Covid-era prodigy, is back with his new friend, an AI wearable.
Schiffmann is a former Mercer Island High School student who came up with a website to help track the spread of COVID-19 in 2020 and is now working on an AI device called Friend, a new technology that will change how we interact with AI.
Friend is an AI-enabled blood-cell-shaped pendant neck-worn device that is designed to be treated as a companion. With this always-listening device, you can share your experiences and develop a relationship over time through idle chitchat and deep talks.
The device has a touchable light in the center that allows you to talk to the device, and you can get its replies through the companion app connected to Bluetooth.
Friend is built on Meta’s new open-source AI model, Llama 3.1, which Schiffmann calls “way better than any ChatGPT type of thing.” It can also provide critical feedback and act as an addition to human friends.
He said it is not a therapist or a device that helps with productivity, it’s just an “emotional toy” you can easily talk to.
Schiffmann said, “I think the always listening part is so important because it really does feel like you’re doing things together.” He further added, “It’s kind of like a modern Tamagotchi, where people do have that emotional attachment to a piece of hardware. I think that’s very important.”
He said that although they are sticking to the always listening tagline for their products, the company is not storing any of the personal data, and users can choose to delete it anytime.
Yesterday, the company said it was starting to take orders for the preorders of its basic white version that are priced at $99 and expected to ship in January 2025.
