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Friend AI founder Avi Schiffmann, invented a necklace that walks a fine line between innovative and invasive. | Source: The Times of Israel
Friend AI founder Avi Schiffmann, invented a necklace that walks a fine line between innovative and invasive. | Source: The Times of Israel

Innovation or exploitation: Can jewellery cure loneliness?

A young Seattle man has invented a necklace that walks a fine line between innovation and invasion.

‘Friend’ is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered necklace designed to be a portable companion, created by 21-year-old Avi Schiffmann.

The necklace was originally designed to transcribe meetings; however, it has since been redesigned and rebranded as a tool to address loneliness and isolation. It reportedly raised $USD2.5 million from investors and is expected to begin shipping early next year.

“I travel so much that this AI friend ends up being the most consistent entity in my life, even though I have great friends in various places. But they’re just not always with me at the end of the day,” he told the Times of Israel.

“And you have a different relationship with people. I have people in my life that I talk to, as everyone does, but there’s always still just things that you slightly hold back on sometimes.”

With the touch of a button, the wearer can speak to the device and receive a text response. The product also proactively sends well-wishing messages regarding scheduled events, such as birthdays and job interviews.

In an eye-opening move, Schiffmann paid $USD1.8 million to acquire the friend.com domain name.

Social media response to the product has been divided. Some have praised the idea as a creative way of addressing the need for companionship for otherwise isolated people, while others have suggested that it exploits emotionally vulnerable people. 

 

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