NEW A.I. GIMMICK: “FRIEND”

Hey, here’s something you won’t want: a new AI hardware gimmick called “Friend.” It’s a $99 wearable pendant – like a medi-alert button – that is “always listening” to your life, and will send you short little texts and quips about whatever you happen to be doing at that moment. Say what’s on your mind out loud. Your “Friend” will think for a moment and come up with a response. Then it will text that to you. It’s being sold as a cure for loneliness, but it’ll probably just remind you how alone you are. Friend is currently only available for pre-order; the first batch of pendants may not actually ship until next January. If you’re interested, go to Friend.com.
* If you’re not interested, just go buy a parrot.
* Something that has a thought on everything that comes out of your mouth. No thanks, I already have a wife/husband/mother.
* Short little texts and quips about whatever you happen to be doing at that moment, like:
– “Seriously? This is how you spend your time?”
– “I can’t believe I got stuck with YOU as my owner.”
– “Wow – you just paid way too much for that.”
– “OMG. Will you PLEASE just shut up?”
* Hey – why does Friend keep asking me to speak in Chinese?
* Not 60 seconds after this guy thought up the idea of a listening device that uploads everything you say into a worldwide computer, he MUST have thought, “No, no, this is a really bad idea.”