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Friend AI Device promo video screenshot.

Friend (AI Device)

Part of a series on AI / Artificial Intelligence. [View Related Entries]

Updated Aug 06, 2024 at 02:01PM EDT by Philipp.

Added Jul 31, 2024 at 07:26AM EDT by Philipp.

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About

Friend is an AI pin device in the form of a pendant that communicates with the wearer by sending them messages or push notifications with its opinions regarding what is going on. After a reveal trailer for the device was released on July 30th, 2024, the startup became a subject of memes and discussions, with the founder spending $1.8 million of the initial investment to acquire the Friend.com domain name spawning jokes and memes.

History

Friend is a wearable artificial intelligence device in the form of a pendant that communicates with the wearer via text messages and push notifications, sharing opinions about what is going on around it and "talking" to the user.[1]

On July 30th, 2024, the founder of the Friend startup Avi Schiffmann (@AviSchiffmann) posted a reveal trailer for the device on X[2] / Twitter and YouTube[3] (shown below). On X / Twitter, the trailer garnered over 11.8 million views, 8,100 reposts and 10,000 likes in one day.


Later on July 30th, Avi Schiffmann wrote on X[4] / Twitter that the startup paid $1.8 million of the initial investment money for the friend.com domain, with the initial investment amount reported to be at $2.5 million.[5]


Evis Drenova @evisdrenova wait this dude actually spent $1.8M out of $2.5M raised on a domain name for a pre-launch hardware device? that is actually f------ insane and i would be furious if i was an investor ESCROW.COM. My Transactions My Integrations Help Contact Us My Transactions All Action Required Open Closed Q Search transaction ID 4 TRANSACTION TITLE Buying of Friend.com Domain Name Holding Filter CREATED E AMOUNT ROLE Start New Transaction You are viewing 1 transaction STATUS $1,887,843.00 Feb 06, 2024 Buyer DNH Service USD 4:11 PM ⚫ Jul 30, 2024 2.2M Views

Online Reactions

The product became a viral subject of discussions on social media in the hours following the release of the trailer, with the founder's $1.8 million investment to acquire the friend.com domain name becoming a prominent subject of jokes.

On July 30th, 2024, tech YouTuber Marques "MKBHD" Brownlee replied to the trailer, commenting, "Wait this isn't a skit?" The reply, followed by an exchange between Brownlee and Schiffmann, received over 270 reposts and 18,000 likes on X[6] in one day (shown below).


Marques Brownlee @MKBHD • 20h Wait this isn't a skit? 122 17264 16K III 1.3M Avi @AviSchiffmann • 20h We'll get one into your hands. Looking forward to a positive review ;) 164 17 61 1.7K 1M 1 Marques Brownlee @MKBHD Look I can guarantee I'll give it a fair shot. I cannot guarantee anything else. 3:12 PM Jul 30, 2024 313.2K Views •

Various memes mocking the founder of the startup over spending a large portion of the investment on a domain name were circulated on X / Twitter in late July 2024. For example, on July 31st, 2024, X[7] user @growing_daniel posted an Ouhhh… Husbant… meme that received over 3,300 reposts in one day (shown below, left).


Daniel @growing_daniel ohh husbandt, you spend $1.8 million on vanity domain before pmf, now we are homeress... 5:21 AM ⚫ Jul 31, 2024 • 16.3K Views . I CONSENT THE MYTH OF "CONSENSUAL" SEX I CONSENT I DON'T! ISN'T THERE SOMEBODY YOU FORGOT TO ASK?

On July 30th, Nik Shevchenko, a founder of a competing AI pin startup also called Friend, posted a diss rap video that accumulated over 645,000 views, 330 reposts and 2,400 likes on X[8] in one day (shown below). The diss also became a part of the discussions related to the product.


Various Examples


LM Sacasas @LMSacasas 1112長映画13復帰入 独占密着!知られざる700 I strongly feel that this s is an insult to life itself. Avi @AviSchiffmann · 23h introducing friend. not imaginary. order now at friend.com MINOTL Let's go! Are you serious? Come on, man. I hate this game. Take notes, baby. Oh, man, you guys suck. Bro, you look like the back of 1:06 12:47 PM ⚫ Jul 30, 2024 39.1K Views 4444 major katsurAGI @major_katsurAGI listen I hate to be that guy again, but like... why is this not an app... if I literally have to take my phone out to use it at all... ? How it works friend well at least we're outside! Talk Speak your mind or gossip about what your friend overheard. Pause Your friend will think for a moment and come up with something good to say. Read Check your phone to see what your friend said. brett goldstein ✪ @thatguybg we live in the real life silicon valley comedy: - two young prodigal hacker/founders are at each others. throats building competing Al pin startups - both startups are named Friend - one spends 1.8M to buy the Friend domain and launches on international friendship day - – the other responds with a diss rap video x.com/kodjima33/stat... 11:20 PM ⚫ Jul 30, 2024 720.5K Views • •
Keaton @KeatonInglis > Raised $1.9M > Spent $1.8M of it on a domain > Built a bluetooth microphone that listens to everything that you say and sends it to a ChatGPT wrapper > Dystopia activated I hate it here Avi @AviSchiffmann · 23h . introducing friend. not imaginary. order now at friend.com 1:59 PM Jul 30, 2024 2M Views • • friend.com macy @macyagilliam congrats to whoever sold these idiots this domain for $1.8 million the only person who's gonna make any money here Avi @AviSchiffmann · 23h introducing friend. not imaginary. order now at friend.com Amy now well at least we're outside! 9:04 PM Jul 30, 2024 1.9M Views • ... Peter Zakin ❤ @pzakin This is somebody's work. Have some respect. If you don't like it, don't buy it. Raffi Chilingaryan @raffichill • 15h Really don't like this. Hope it fails straight up. x.com/avischiffmann/... 8:41 PM ⚫ Jul 30, 2024 313.2K Views

Search Interest

External References

[1] Wikipedia – Wear This AI Friend Around Your Neck

[2] X – @AviSchiffmann

[3] YouTube – Friend Reveal Trailer

[4] X – @AviSchiffmann

[5] X – @evisdrenova

[6] X – @MKBHD

[7] X – @growing_daniel

[8] X – @kodjima33

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