How would you feel wearing a necklace that asks questions? The wearable AI “Friend” is just that, and there have been many mixed feelings about it, reasonably so. It might not be so lovely to have a listening device on you at all times. Is AI becoming too advanced and taking away true human connection?
The ads started in New York, and the residents didn’t find them appealing. According to futurism.com, “New York City subway ads for a new pendant by AI startup Friend were quickly defaced by droves of angry residents.” This clearly represents how it didn’t get off to a good start. Residents quickly began voicing their concerns about it. Here’s what some graffiti artists wrote, according to the article: “Befriend something alive,” reads one graffiti tag. 
“AI wouldn’t care if you lived or died,” another vandal wrote.” Clearly, “Friend” didn’t get much love. According to CNN, “Schiffmann’s company spent $1 million to plaster New York City subways with ads this fall, only to have many of them defaced or torn down.” The article continues to say, “To its critics, the Friend encapsulates much of what’s wrong with the tech industry’s push to incorporate AI into our everyday lives, from AI potentially replacing human relationships to privacy and environmental concerns.” This quote represents good points. Having a wearable AI is only a step closer to losing human interaction, something so important in our daily lives. It’s not only New York citizens who have something to say about it. 
It’s important to know what your own community has to say about topics like this. Things like “Friend” that lead to no human interaction. Here’s what some students from Santiago said about Friends. “It probably wouldn’t be good for us.” (Roman Looney, 12, stated. He continues to say, “I don’t want something always listening to me, and whatever’s around me that’s weird. Another student stated, “It would definitely be uncomfortable knowing that it’s always listening to me, and it’s hard to picture what life would be like if it were everywhere. (David Figueroa, 12). Both of these are highly valid. It is hard to imagine, and even scary to imagine, if this AI necklace really did start to have a more common appearance throughout the world. Human interaction is what keeps the world alive. It holds people’s sanity. Could you imagine having a terrible day, and instead of hanging out with friends, talking to family, doing a hobby you love, you decide to speak to something fake you’re wearing around your neck? AI cannot understand emotion. It cannot relate to bad days. Or any day for that matter.
It is clearly stated that this wearable technology is harmful to humans. And that’s the majority opinion of others. Most people would rather not have something on them that listens to them and their surroundings 24/7. New York citizens represent this clearly, and so does our own community. Do you believe that this AI is good for humanity? Or do you think that AI has gone way too far?
