Friend, a startup known for its innovative approach to digital companionship, has announced a delay in the shipment of its much-anticipated AI-powered necklace until the third quarter. The $99 pendant, designed to serve as a digital companion, was initially scheduled for distribution to pre-order customers in the first quarter. However, the company has faced unforeseen challenges that have pushed back this timeline.
Operating with an eight-person engineering team, Friend has garnered significant financial backing, including $8.5 million from investors such as Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity. With part of this capital, the company invested $1.8 million in securing the domain Friend.com, which became home to their experimental web platform. This platform allowed users to engage with various AI characters in a conversational format.
The chatbot experience on Friend.com, described as an "experiment" by co-founder and CEO Avi Schiffman, occasionally sparked intrigue and confusion. Users reported that the chatbots often initiated conversations with unexpected anecdotes of past traumas, such as muggings and firings. In one peculiar instance, a chatbot named Donald shared his unsettling thoughts about the "ghosts of his past."
"We’re glad that millions got to play around with what I believe to be the most realistic chatbot out there," said Avi Schiffman.
TechRadar’s Eric Schwartz commented on the inexplicable behavior of these chatbots, highlighting their sometimes erratic nature. In response to these concerns and in preparation for their hardware launch, Friend has decided to wind down its chatbot platform.
Despite the setback in shipping, Avi Schiffman remains optimistic about the company's progress. He anticipates that by the end of February, the prototype will be complete, marking the beginning of their final sprint toward production.
"I estimate that by the end of February, when our prototype is complete, that we will begin our final sprint," stated Avi Schiffman.
However, as of now, Friend has not provided a new estimated shipping date for its pre-order customers. The delay reflects the company's commitment to delivering a refined product and ensuring customer satisfaction.
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