Friend app: Difference between revisions
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{{ProductCargo | |||
|InProduction= | |InProduction=Yes | ||
|Logo=FriendAI.png | |||
|ReleaseYear=2025 | |||
|Category=AI chatbot, wearable | |||
|ArticleType=Service | |ArticleType=Service | ||
|Website= https://friend.com/?page=hardware | |||
|Description=“Friend” is a wearable AI pendant device that claims to provide conversational companionship, raising concerns about continuous recording and privacy liability. | |Description=“Friend” is a wearable AI pendant device that claims to provide conversational companionship, raising concerns about continuous recording and privacy liability. | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Friend''' is a wearable [[artificial intelligence]] (AI) pendant device that aims to provide conversation and companionship. | |||
==Consumer-impact summary== | ==Consumer-impact summary== | ||
Users of the Friend device may be subject to continuous | Users of the Friend device may be subject to continuous recording of video, audio, and biometric data. The company’s policies shift liability for recordings involving bystanders onto users. The device’s data retention, model training, and deletion practices raise questions under evolving biometric data privacy laws such as Illinois’ BIPA & various state-federal frameworks.<ref name="FriendPPv2">{{cite web |url=https://www.friend.com/privacy.pdf |title=Friend – Privacy Policy v2 |website=Friend |date=2025-06-14 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.friend.com/privacy.pdf |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref> | ||
There is a one-time payment to get the device. It is unclear how the company will be able to provide ongoing service without a user subscription. | |||
==Capabilities & | ==Capabilities & data practices== | ||
Friend’s official privacy policy (v2) states that it serves as a “data controller” under GDPR & collects personal data from use of the services.<ref | Friend’s official privacy policy (v2) states that it serves as a “data controller” under GDPR & collects personal data from use of the services.<ref name="FriendPPv2" /> | ||
Key practices include: | Key practices include: | ||
*Collection of name, phone, email, account credentials, uploaded content, & ambient video/audio from device surroundings.<ref | *Collection of name, phone, email, account credentials, uploaded content, & ambient video/audio from device surroundings.<ref name="FriendPPv2" /> | ||
*Collection of biometric data including facial & voice recognition.<ref | *Collection of biometric data including facial & voice recognition.<ref name="FriendPPv2" /> | ||
*Retention of data for over five years if “legal, regulatory, or technical reasons” prevent deletion.<ref | *Retention of data for over five years if “legal, regulatory, or technical reasons” prevent deletion.<ref name="FriendPPv2" /> | ||
*Use of personal data to train machine learning models powering Friend.<ref | *Use of personal data to train machine learning models powering Friend.<ref name="FriendPPv2" /> | ||
Media reporting highlights possible discrepancies: | Media reporting highlights possible discrepancies: | ||
*NBC Bay Area reported the company claims it “will not store any audio recordings.”<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/tech/friend-com-launches-product-preview/3611528/ |title=Meet the AI startup that wants to give you a friend |website=NBC Bay Area |date=2025-02-01 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/tech/friend-com-launches-product-preview/3611528/ |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref> | *NBC Bay Area reported the company claims it “will not store any audio recordings.”<ref name="NBC">{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/tech/friend-com-launches-product-preview/3611528/ |title=Meet the AI startup that wants to give you a friend |website=NBC Bay Area |date=2025-02-01 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/tech/friend-com-launches-product-preview/3611528/ |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref> | ||
*Wired reported the pendant is always-on & continuously listening for conversation.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wired.com/story/friend-ai-pendant/ |title=Wear This AI Friend Around Your Neck |website=Wired |date=2025-03-15 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.wired.com/story/friend-ai-pendant/ |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref> | *Wired reported the pendant is always-on & continuously listening for conversation.<ref name="Wired">{{cite web |url=https://www.wired.com/story/friend-ai-pendant/ |title=Wear This AI Friend Around Your Neck |website=Wired |date=2025-03-15 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.wired.com/story/friend-ai-pendant/ |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref> | ||
==Legal & | ==Legal & regulatory environment== | ||
The Illinois | The Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) requires entities to obtain written consent before collecting biometric identifiers, provide retention schedules, & limit data storage.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=095-0994 |title=Biometric Information Privacy Act |website=Illinois General Assembly |date=2008 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=095-0994 |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref> The Illinois Supreme Court’s 2019 ''Rosenbach'' decision expanded standing for consumers to sue.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.americanbar.org/groups/antitrust_law/resources/source/2025-june/biometric-privacy-litigation/ |title=The Who, Why, and Where of Biometric Privacy Litigation |website=American Bar Association |date=2025-06-01 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.americanbar.org/groups/antitrust_law/resources/source/2025-june/biometric-privacy-litigation/ |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref> | ||
Analysts warn that devices like Friend raise risks under BIPA & similar laws, especially when data is used for AI training.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lexisnexis.com/pdf/practical-guidance/ai/biometric-privacy-and-ai-legal-dev.pdf |title=Biometric Privacy and AI Legal Developments |website=LexisNexis |date=2025 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.lexisnexis.com/pdf/practical-guidance/ai/biometric-privacy-and-ai-legal-dev.pdf |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref> Federal & state regulators increasingly classify biometric identifiers as sensitive data requiring special protection.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kpmg.com/us/en/articles/2025/ai-and-privacy-a-look-at-biometric-tech-and-data-reg-alert.html |title=AI and Privacy: A Look at Biometric Tech & Data |website=KPMG |date=2025 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://kpmg.com/us/en/articles/2025/ai-and-privacy-a-look-at-biometric-tech-and-data-reg-alert.html |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref> | Analysts warn that devices like Friend raise risks under BIPA & similar laws, especially when data is used for AI training.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lexisnexis.com/pdf/practical-guidance/ai/biometric-privacy-and-ai-legal-dev.pdf |title=Biometric Privacy and AI Legal Developments |website=LexisNexis |date=2025 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.lexisnexis.com/pdf/practical-guidance/ai/biometric-privacy-and-ai-legal-dev.pdf |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref> Federal & state regulators increasingly classify biometric identifiers as sensitive data requiring special protection.<ref name="KPMG">{{cite web |url=https://kpmg.com/us/en/articles/2025/ai-and-privacy-a-look-at-biometric-tech-and-data-reg-alert.html |title=AI and Privacy: A Look at Biometric Tech & Data |website=KPMG |date=2025 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://kpmg.com/us/en/articles/2025/ai-and-privacy-a-look-at-biometric-tech-and-data-reg-alert.html |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref> | ||
===Precedents & | ===Precedents & industry comparisons=== | ||
The Clearview AI litigation demonstrates how courts treat unauthorized biometric collection. In 2025, Clearview agreed to a US$51.75 million settlement resolving claims under BIPA.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.regulatoryoversight.com/2025/04/51-75m-settlement-in-clearview-ai-biometric-privacy-litigation-illustrates-creative-resolution-for-startups-facing-parallel-litigation-and-enforcement-action/ |title=$51.75M Settlement in Clearview AI Biometric Privacy Litigation |website=Regulatory Oversight |date=2025-04-12 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.regulatoryoversight.com/2025/04/51-75m-settlement-in-clearview-ai-biometric-privacy-litigation-illustrates-creative-resolution-for-startups-facing-parallel-litigation-and-enforcement-action/ |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref> | The [[Clearview AI]] litigation demonstrates how courts treat unauthorized biometric data collection. In 2025, Clearview agreed to a US$51.75 million settlement resolving claims under BIPA.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.regulatoryoversight.com/2025/04/51-75m-settlement-in-clearview-ai-biometric-privacy-litigation-illustrates-creative-resolution-for-startups-facing-parallel-litigation-and-enforcement-action/ |title=$51.75M Settlement in Clearview AI Biometric Privacy Litigation |website=Regulatory Oversight |date=2025-04-12 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.regulatoryoversight.com/2025/04/51-75m-settlement-in-clearview-ai-biometric-privacy-litigation-illustrates-creative-resolution-for-startups-facing-parallel-litigation-and-enforcement-action/ |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref> | ||
Competitor devices, such as the Limitless pendant, advertise a more limited data policy, not permitting ambient biometric capture.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.limitless.ai/privacy |title=Privacy – Limitless |website=Limitless.ai |date=2025 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.limitless.ai/privacy |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref> | Competitor devices, such as the Limitless pendant, advertise a more limited data policy, not permitting ambient biometric capture.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.limitless.ai/privacy |title=Privacy – Limitless |website=Limitless.ai |date=2025 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.limitless.ai/privacy |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref> | ||
==Company | ==Company responses & disputes== | ||
The company asserts that: | The company asserts that: | ||
*Friend does not store audio recordings permanently.<ref | *Friend does not store audio recordings permanently.<ref name="NBC" /> | ||
*Data deletion requests can be submitted, though model training may make deletion incomplete.<ref | *Data deletion requests can be submitted, though model training may make deletion incomplete.<ref name="FriendPPv2" /> | ||
Operational issues have been reported | Operational issues have been reported; the company delayed initial shipments announced for Q1 2025 until at least Q3 2025.<ref name="TechCrunch">{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/20/friend-delays-shipments-of-its-ai-companion-pendant/ |title=Friend delays shipments of its AI companion pendant |website=TechCrunch |date=2025-01-20 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/20/friend-delays-shipments-of-its-ai-companion-pendant/ |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref> | ||
==Consumer | ==Consumer response== | ||
Consumer advocates & analysts have identified key risks: | Consumer advocates & analysts have identified key risks for consumers: | ||
*Constant ambient recording of private environments.<ref | *Constant ambient recording of private environments.<ref name="Wired" /> | ||
*Shifting liability to users for privacy violations of third parties.<ref | *Shifting liability to users for privacy violations of third parties.<ref name="FriendPPv2" /> | ||
*Biometric sensitivity: face & voice identifiers are permanent.<ref | *Biometric sensitivity: face & voice identifiers are permanent.<ref name="KPMG" /> | ||
*Risk that deletion requests are ineffective once data is used to train AI models.<ref | *Risk that deletion requests are ineffective once data is used to train AI models.<ref name="FriendPPv2" /> | ||
===Shipment | ===Shipment delay (January 2025)=== | ||
Friend announced initial shipments to | Friend announced initial shipments to pre-order customers in Q1 2025 but later delayed deliveries until Q3 2025.<ref name="TechCrunch" /> | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||