A gadget that talks to you: the return of Friend

The company behind the device, founded by tech entrepreneur Avi Schiffmann, released an updated model for $249, a significant increase from the $129 price tag of the original version. The pendant, which hangs around the neck, uses artificial intelligence to act as a listener and conversational partner. Each device comes pre-programmed with a unique human-like voice and personality that the owner cannot change. While the basic device offers conversation, the company also offers a $10 monthly subscription, which allows the AI to remember details about the user for longer than 30 days. The product has drawn attention for its unusual marketing, which often highlights people using the device to talk through personal life struggles or creative dreams.

This device relies on a type of technology called a large language model. This is the same underlying engine that powers tools like ChatGPT. It is essentially a sophisticated system trained on massive amounts of written text, enabling it to predict the most likely next word in a sequence based on the context of a conversation. When you speak to the pendant, it captures your voice, converts your words into text, and sends them to this digital brain. The system then generates a response aimed at mirroring human conversation. By adding a speaker, the device performs another step: it takes that generated text and uses a voice synthesis engine to turn the words into audible speech. Because the company uses an established model from OpenAI, the pendant can handle a wide variety of topics, effectively simulating a friendly chat even though it is just processing patterns in language.

Devices like this represent a growing push to turn AI into a personal, always-present presence rather than just a workplace tool. However, the device highlights a core challenge in the current technology landscape: the distinction between genuine human interaction and a programmed simulation of it. While the creator describes the device as a way to provide companionship, others worry that replacing real-world relationships with digital ones creates a hollow form of comfort. As these devices become more capable of talking back—and remembering personal details over time—the question becomes whether they will serve as a meaningful companion, or simply a sophisticated illusion designed to keep us using the product.