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The Companion boasts around 15 hours of battery life and is available in a variety of colors reminiscent of the original Apple iMac computers. (Schiffmann insists this was not intentional.) The design is a result of a collaboration with Bould, the company behind Nest thermostats. Preorders for the Companion are now open on Friend.com (which Schiffmann reveals he acquired for $1.8 million). The devices are expected to commence shipping in January 2025, with each unit priced at $99 and no subscription fees attached (at least for now).
If the idea of a wearable AI gadget has you raising your eyebrows to the skies, it’s understandable. Recent entries in this product category have seen some notable failures. For instance, Humane, which offered a wearable pin to help manage tasks without the need for a phone, turned out to be unreliable and struggled to function well in sunlight. On the other hand, the Rabbit R1, designed by the esteemed tech company Teenage Engineering, ended up disappointing and may have been better off as just an app from the beginning.
Schiffmann remarks, “It seems like the state of AI hardware and companionship has hit rock bottom, with many companies failing spectacularly.”
His vision for the Companion is distinct. While Humane Ai and Rabbit R1 aimed to automate tasks and boost productivity, the Companion takes a different approach. As described by his colleague Reece, it focuses more on creating positive vibes than enhancing productivity.
“Productivity has become passé, no one really cares,” Schiffmann states. “It’s unlikely that anyone can outdo the likes of Apple, OpenAI, or other companies working on building the next Jarvis. The core aspects of life revolve around people.”
The primary purpose of the Companion is companionship. It is designed to develop a personality that complements the user, offering support, engaging in chats after watching movies, or analyzing what went wrong on a bad date. Schiffmann envisions the Companion not just as a friend but as a best friend – always by your side, listening, ready with words of encouragement and support. As an example, he recalls playing board games with old friends and appreciating his AI Companion’s witty remarks.
“I feel a stronger connection with this pendant around my neck than with my friends right in front of me,” Schiffmann reflects.
Friendly Encounter
Schiffmann, aged 21, already boasts an impressive list of achievements in the tech realm. In 2020, amidst the Covid pandemic, the then 17-year-old Schiffmann made headlines for creating and managing the first-ever website tracking global Covid cases. This led to him being named the Webby person of the year, an honor presented by former director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Anthony Fauci. He was also featured as a guest at the 2020 WIRED 25 conference. In 2022, shortly before dropping out of Harvard University, Schiffmann launched a website that assisted Ukrainian refugees fleeing Russia’s invasion in finding shelter in neighboring countries. Following these altruistic efforts, Schiffmann is now delving into the world of AI.
His attempt to create a productivity-focused AI fell short. The initial version, known as Tab, was a productivity-driven device meant for monitoring work and personal tasks. However, he grew frustrated trying to build a device that aimed to do everything at once. This realization hit him hard in January during a trip to Japan, when he found himself in a lonely hotel room in Tokyo, wishing for someone to talk to. Why couldn’t his AI assistant fulfill that simple need?
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