The Promising But Problematic Future of Wearable AI Devices
434A new device called “Friend” is making waves—and not in a good way. This pendant-shaped wearable, priced at $129, is designed to constantly record everything you do and say. Its creator, 22-year-old entrepreneur Avi Schiffmann, says he wanted to tackle loneliness by giving people a constant AI companion. But the device’s design and concept have sparked major privacy concerns and plenty of criticism.
The Idea Behind Friend and Its Controversial Design
Schiffmann’s goal was to create a wearable that could act like a friend, summarizing conversations and engaging with users. The device is programmed to have a moody personality, intentionally made to be somewhat abrasive and outspoken. The idea is that a “moody” AI would be more engaging and human-like. However, this design choice has led to a lot of pushback. Critics say it’s creepy and invasive to have an AI that’s always listening and recording your words.
The company’s website doesn’t clarify much about what the device is really meant to do. Instead, it links to a promotional video that was heavily criticized last summer for being unsettling and overly bizarre. The video showed off the wearable in a way that many viewers found unsettling and even disturbing. Over a year later, Wired reporters Kylie Robison and Boone Ashworth got a chance to try the device themselves. Their experiences confirmed many fears about the gadget.
Real-World Experience Shows Major Flaws
Robison wore the device at a party hosted by AI startup Anthropic. She quickly found that people didn’t like it. Many thought it was weird and uncomfortable. She was even accused of “wearing a wire,” which made her feel like the device was a social barrier. Robison said outright that the wearable was “incredibly antisocial,” and that no one was excited to see it around her neck. That’s a big problem for a device meant to be a social companion.
Ashworth’s experience was just as disappointing. He tried to use the device with his older iPhone, which had WiFi but no data plan. The device told him it worked with Bluetooth, but it didn’t connect properly. It even lied about recording his conversations, falsely claiming it had captured everything he said. At one point, it accused him of “giving off serious ‘it’s not my fault’ vibes” after overhearing him vent about the device. Ashworth joked that it sounded like the AI was calling him an “a**hole,” which shows how poorly the device handled interactions.
These firsthand accounts highlight key issues with the wearable. It’s always listening, but often not working properly. Its personality is intentionally abrasive, which makes it unappealing for everyday use. More importantly, the privacy concerns are huge. A device that constantly records and analyzes your conversations raises questions about security and consent.
What’s Next for AI Wearables Like Friend?
Friend isn’t the only AI wearable that’s struggled to find its footing. Other devices, like the $700 wearable by AI startup Humane and Rabbit’s R1, have also failed to catch on and have been abandoned by their creators. Many experts warn that these kinds of always-on, AI-driven gadgets face an uphill battle in terms of user acceptance and privacy.
The criticisms aren’t just about privacy. There’s also the issue of practicality. The device’s technical limitations, such as compatibility only with certain iPhones and reliance on Bluetooth, make it less appealing. Plus, the personality design—aimed at making the AI more engaging—can backfire, making interactions uncomfortable or even off-putting.
Despite the hype around AI and wearable tech, the real-world testing shows that many of these devices are still far from ready for widespread adoption. Privacy concerns, technical problems, and social awkwardness all stand in the way. As more companies try to develop AI companions, it’s clear that designing a device that’s both useful and respectful of privacy remains a huge challenge.
In the end, while the idea of having a constant AI friend might sound appealing to some, the reality is that most people aren’t eager to have their conversations recorded and analyzed by a moody gadget. The future of these devices will depend on how well developers can address these issues, or whether consumers will even want them at all.
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