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AI 'Friend' Pendant Sparks Backlash: Inventor Defies Critics, Sees Bright Future
16 Nov
Summary
- 23-year-old inventor created AI 'Friend' pendant to combat loneliness
- $1 million subway ad campaign in NYC faced backlash, with ads defaced
- Inventor believes AI companions will become a new normal in the next decade
In November 2025, a 23-year-old inventor named Avi Schiffmann found himself at the center of a major controversy over his creation, the 'Friend' AI pendant. Schiffmann, who dropped out of Harvard a year earlier, had launched the device as a digital companion to combat loneliness, especially among young men.
The Friend pendant, which began shipping to customers this past summer, listens to users' surroundings and conversations, providing advice and small talk through a smartphone app. However, the device has struck a nerve with critics who see it as emblematic of the tech industry's push to incorporate AI into everyday life, raising concerns about privacy, environmental impact, and the potential replacement of human relationships.
