The wearable chatbot device Friend, launched by founder Avi Schiffmann, rolled out a high‑cost subway advertising campaign in New York City that quickly drew public ire. Commuters defaced the ads, shouted anti‑AI slogans, and organized a spontaneous protest that included tearing up cardboard cut‑outs of the device. Schiffmann later clarified he did not plan the event, traveled to New York after seeing the photos, and engaged with participants, emphasizing a desire for dialogue rather than sales to big‑tech firms. Read more →

Friend, a wearable AI startup, has poured more than $1 million into a massive subway advertising campaign across New York City. The effort features over 11,000 cards on train cars, 1,000 platform posters and 130 urban panels, creating a dominant visual presence in stations such as West 4th Street. CEO Avi Schiffman told Adweek the campaign is a high‑risk gamble aimed at sparking conversation about the device, which retails for $129. The ads have drawn mixed reactions, including vandalism and criticism from Wired, highlighting the tension between innovative AI products and public concerns about surveillance. Read more →