Friend re-launches its AI pendant with a speaker that talks to you, for twice the price

<figure> <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&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <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> </div></figure> <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>