Avi Schiffmann, the tech whiz behind a popular COVID-tracking site, felt a pang of loneliness while solo-traveling in Japan. While building his latest project, Tab—a wearable AI designed for deep, personal conversations—he realized what he truly craved was not just a productivity boost but a companion who genuinely listened.
This transformed Tab into Friend, an AI-powered wearable that aims to be the supportive buddy you didn’t know you needed. Officially launching today, Friend is a sleek, pendant-sized device that’s always on, capturing and interpreting every whisper of your life. Priced at $99, it will ship by January 2025.
Friend, which snagged $1.9 million in funding and a $50 million valuation, is essentially a high-tech Bluetooth mic worn around your neck. It connects to your phone, eavesdropping on your world with a 15-hour battery life and a glowing indicator that’s always on. Everything it hears is encrypted and stored in the cloud, letting you manage your conversations and memories with ease.
Its charm lies in its simplicity: touch the pendant, and it sends a text response; it can even interject in your daily activities based on what it hears. Schiffmann envisions Friend as more than just a gadget—it’s designed to combat loneliness and offer emotional stability, with the hope that it becomes a real companion in the AI world.
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