The AI wearable pendant, Friend, has launched a new version at $249, featuring a built-in speaker for verbal responses and updated AI models. This iteration retains the original's concept of a "wearable companion" designed for conversation, now directly from the device itself rather than solely through its companion app. The company, led by founder Avi Schiffmann, appears to embrace controversy, with Schiffmann stating, "Reality is so over; everything is ironic now." This approach has been evident since Friend's initial advertising campaign generated a negative response.

While the addition of a speaker aims to make the interaction more human-like, the core premise of conversing with an AI with a randomized personality remains. Concerns about the potential dangers of relying on AI for emotional support persist. Beyond the ethical considerations and privacy implications, the new Friend pendant represents a significant price increase from the original $129 model. Furthermore, a $10 per month subscription is now required for the AI to retain memory beyond 30 days, making the proposition of an AI friend that forgets you monthly a potentially unappealing aspect of the product.