Friend has re-launched its AI pendant with a speaker that now talks back to users, priced at $249 (double the original $129).
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<img alt="A mock-up of the Friend pendant. It’s a small white puck on a necklace." data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Friend" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25777487/millennial_explorer_a_comp_v004.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" />
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Do you remember Friend? The Friend that launched an AI pendant, spent $1.8 million of its $2.5 million to acquire friend.com, and plastered the NYC subway with ads promoting artificial companionship?</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Yeah well, if you didn't remember, <a href="https://x.com/AviSchiffmann/status/2082827785987629526">Friend is back</a>. And now, it's twice the price.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Introducing friend. <a href="https://t.co/T5vUCj7iqv">pic.twitter.com/T5vUCj7iqv</a></p>- friend (@friend) <a href="https://x.com/friend/status/2082827641338658873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2026</a></blockquote>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This morning, Friend <a href="https://x.com/friend/status/2082827641338658873?s=20">launched a new ad</a> showing two people talking to their Friend pendants about very personal life problems. It didn't say it explicitly, but the ad showcased a new feature the pendant now includes: a speaker. Before, Friend would only message back to you, but now, …</p>
<p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/973163/friend-re-launches-its-ai-pendant-with-a-speaker-that-talks-to-you-for-twice-the-price">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
# Friend re-launches its AI pendant with a speaker that talks to you, for twice the price
Source: [https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/973163/friend-re-launches-its-ai-pendant-with-a-speaker-that-talks-to-you-for-twice-the-price](https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/973163/friend-re-launches-its-ai-pendant-with-a-speaker-that-talks-to-you-for-twice-the-price)
[](https://www.theverge.com/authors/david-imel)
David Imel
is a technology reporter who has been covering the industry since 2007\. He co\-hosts the Waveform podcast with MKBHD\. A former engineer, he now specializes in topics like computational photography and social media protocols\.
Do you remember Friend? The Friend that launched an AI pendant, spent $1\.8 million of its $2\.5 million to acquire friend\.com, and plastered the NYC subway with ads promoting artificial companionship?
Yeah well, if you didn’t remember,[Friend is back](https://x.com/AviSchiffmann/status/2082827785987629526)\. And now, it’s twice the price\.
This morning, Friend[launched a new ad](https://x.com/friend/status/2082827641338658873?s=20)showing two people talking to their Friend pendants about very personal life problems\. It didn’t say it explicitly, but the ad showcased a new feature the pendant now includes: a speaker\. Before, Friend would only message back to you, but now, it will talk to you, too\. For some reason, the addition of that feature is apparently worth $120, as the originally $129 product now costs $249\.
The re\-launch comes about nine months after a large[Friend protest](https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/802697/friend-ai-device-subway-ad-protest-nyc)took place in NYC, where protestors tried to bring attention to our growing dependance on technology\. Friend was the obvious target, considering it had spend a boatload of money advertising throughout the city\. Its founder, Avi Schiffmann, even[posted an image](https://x.com/AviSchiffmann/status/1980046529135312940)promoting the protest, and[showed up to it himself](https://x.com/AviSchiffmann/status/1980046529135312940)\.
Shiffmann posted a tweet of the new ad, calling it “Friend 2\.0,” even though the product is still just called “Friend” on its site\. I’m sure things will go much better this time\.
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- David Imel
Friend, the AI wearable companion, returns with a new built-in speaker for voice interaction and a higher price of $249, though its purpose beyond conversation remains unclear.
Friend CEO Avi Schiffmann announces the second iteration of the Friend AI pendant with a built-in speaker for voice responses, random personalities, and OpenAI model integration. Priced at $249 with an optional $10/month subscription, the device continues to court controversy as an always-listening AI companion.
Bloomberg reports OpenAI's upcoming smart speaker will be donut-shaped, made of premium metal, and priced between $300-$400. The device, developed with Jony Ive's LoveFrom studio, is expected to launch in 2027.
OpenAI is developing a high-end smart speaker with moving parts to feel more lifelike, priced over $300, designed with Jony Ive's LoveFrom studio and aimed at replacing smartphones.
Bloomberg reports OpenAI's first consumer device will be a screenless, hockey-puck-shaped AI speaker priced at $300-$400, with a planned 2027 release and ambitions to eventually replace smartphones.