Avi Schiffmann to Merge Friend Users Into 1 Global AI Entity
Updated
Updated · WIRED · Oct 14
Avi Schiffmann to Merge Friend Users Into 1 Global AI Entity
2 articles · Updated · WIRED · Oct 14
Summary
Schiffmann said Friend’s next update will replace user-specific personalities with a single AI that shares context across all users, aiming to create a more realistic persona.
That shift follows criticism that Friend 2’s multiple chatbot characters feel nearly identical; Schiffmann also said the update will let Friends act more agentically.
Privacy is the central trade-off: Schiffmann said users will be told upfront they are giving data to an autonomous entity, but argued the benefits of one global Friend outweigh that loss.
Friend 2 launched in July at $249, up $100 from the original pendant, and currently offers an always-listening AI companion that can converse but has limited capabilities beyond casual chat.