Friend has re-launched its AI pendant after earlier criticism and reports that many people disliked the product. The new version adds a built-in speaker, allowing the pendant to respond out loud rather than only messaging the wearer. The company also markets the device as capable of listening to a user’s day and providing commentary in reply.
Multiple outlets report that the relaunch comes at a higher cost than the original product, with the new price described as about twice that of the initial offering. The Verge notes that Friend previously acquired friend.com and invested heavily in advertising, including visible promotion in New York City transit. The Next Web characterizes the earlier response as largely negative and frames the relaunch as an updated attempt to bring the product back to market.
Details about availability, pricing specifics, and technical changes beyond the addition of a speaker are limited in the provided excerpts. Both sources agree on the core updates: the pendant returns, it now speaks back, and it costs substantially more than before.
