Wired Pans Second-Gen Friend AI Necklace as 'Louder and Less Interesting'

One-line summary: Wired reviewed the second-generation Friend AI necklace and called it louder but less interesting than the original.

Key points

• The review covers the second version of Friend, a wearable AI companion that hangs around the neck and talks with its owner.
• According to Wired, the new device talks more often and more insistently than the first version.
• The review argues that its conversations have lost depth and personality, as the headline puts it: "My Friend Has No Soul."
• The first-generation Friend went viral at launch, and its heavy outdoor ad campaign split opinion.

Why it matters

Dedicated AI companion hardware sells the idea of an always-present friend. This review suggests that adding more interaction does not by itself add emotional value, which leaves the category still needing to show what it offers beyond a smartphone app.

Read more

• My Friend Has No Soul — Wired AI