The world of wearables is now expanding, with the latest using the powers of artificial intelligence and offering a mix of awkward and advanced features with the AI necklace called "friend." The new wearable mainly centers on AI, and it is lowkey channeling a Black Mirror experience for users as it is an AI-powered companion that is always listening and will respond to users via the phone.
AI assistants have been mostly available on mobile or computer devices, but this time, it is in a new wearable form factor that hangs around one's neck.
AI Necklace, friend, is Here to be Your Companion
friend
A new trailer from a startup company called "Friend" introduced its latest wearable necklace that is powered by AI, and it is called "friend" (with "f" in small caps). It shows the new minimalist-designed wearable that hangs around one's neck offers a new kind of companion that will always be on the lookout for its owner.
However, this is not that kind of lookout as it does not have cameras, but it can hear what users are saying and respond accordingly.
friend via YouTube
According to the 'friend' website, this is not imaginary, and it was revealed by the company that it is "always listening" to users, building it with open-sourced AI tech.
The AI-based features of friends will allow it to respond to users accordingly, offering human-like conversations when able.
When the device is connected to Bluetooth, friends will always listen to users and provide snarky or sassy remarks but offer helpful comments or advice if it detects the mood. In the trailer, it shows that a user would need to press the necklace to activate its listening features, but as per the company, it may choose to respond without a prompt.
Despite being a companion wearable, it cannot speak, as it can only share its insights or responses via the smartphone app and notifications.
Tech Wearables and AI Developments
Wearable technology has come a long way from being fitness and health trackers which first centered on smartwatches that were popularized by the likes of the Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch, Fitbit, and more. The dawn of generative AI expanded more of what wearables can offer users, with one of the most popular and lately, controversial tech from Humane called the AI Pin.
One of the top offers of wearable technology is to carry around new kinds of experiences and capabilities without taking more space in one's pockets or bags, as they are part of one's body.
The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses first started as Instagram's companion for taking photos and videos, but earlier this year, Meta introduced its multimodal AI to help expand more of what it can offer users.
From being worn on one's wrists to the face, smart apparel, and down to smart rings, wearable technology evolved throughout the years, with its latest offers now centering on generative AI. Now, 'friend' offers a new form factor for wearables as it hangs on one's neck, with the AI voice companion always listening and ready to respond whenever it detects its beholder speaking.
