The transient flurry of AI-powered wearables just like the Humane AI Pin and the Rabbit R1 does not appear to have caught on the best way their creators hoped, however one appears to be banking on the concept what we actually need from an AI companion is continuous drama and traumatic backstories. Friend, whose pendant hardware is not even out but, has debuted an internet platform on Friend.com to permit folks to speak to random examples of AI characters. The factor is, each particular person I and several other others talked to goes by means of the worst day or week of their lives.
Firings, muggings, and darkish household secrets and techniques popping out are simply a few of the opening gambits from the AI chatbots. These are occasions that might result in tough conversations along with your finest pal. A complete stranger (that you just’re pretending is human) mustn’t kick off a attainable friendship whereas present process intense trauma. That is not what CEO Avi Schiffmann highlights within the video saying the web site, after all.
Immediately we’re releasing all people’s Mates into the world.Quickly you’ll deliver them anyplace with you.Meet your Good friend now at https://t.co/yaREoc3FHW. pic.twitter.com/ny6OpnykPANovember 14, 2024
Dramatic AI
You’ll be able to see typical examples of the AI chatbots opening traces at on the prime of the web page and above. Good friend has pitched its {hardware} as a device that may hear what you are doing and saying and remark in pleasant textual content messages. I do not suppose Craig is in any place to be encouraging after getting pistol-whipped. And Alice appear extra preoccupied along with her (once more, fictional) points than something occurring in the actual world.
These conversations are textbook examples of trauma-dumping, unsolicited divulging of intense private points and occasions, Or, they’d be if these had been human beings and never AI characters. They do not break the phantasm simply, nonetheless. Craig curses at me for even suggesting it. Who would not need these folks to textual content you out of the blue as Schiffmann highlights.
Flip your notifications on. Mates can textual content you first pic.twitter.com/Joa8MxueYDNovember 15, 2024
Future Mates?
When the {hardware} launches, you’ll carry round your dramatic pal in a necklace. The AI will likely be listening and arising with methods to reply to no matter occurs in your day. I am unsure you’d need that in a few of these instances. When you do find yourself hitting it off with one of many AI characters on the web site, you possibly can hyperlink it to your account.
“You will successfully ‘transfer in collectively”‘ like an actual companion,” as Schiffmann put it on X. We’re principally building Webkinz + Sims + Tamagotchi.
That stated, I will be very stunned if anybody takes up his provide for individuals who actually get together with their AI companion.
We’ll cowl the marriage for the primary one that marries their Good friend 🤵💍🤖November 15, 2024