With Friends Like These

[Who the fuck needs COINTELPRO?]
A little over a year ago, I linked to a puff piece about the AI-powered Friend pendant. Now, writers Kylie Robison and Boone Ashworth have reviewed the device for Wired, and they are not fans.

It is an incredibly antisocial device to wear. People were never excited to see it around my neck. I certainly wouldn’t approach my neighbor with a mic and try to assuage their anxiety by telling them the audio is just going to a chatbot…I found out quickly that even at the most tech-minded gatherings, the thing was a complete taboo.

My initial reaction to this device, as well as others like it, was distinctly negative. I do not want to wear an always-recording device. I also do not want to hang out with someone else who’s wearing one. As I’ve read more about these devices, my distaste has only grown. A negative review such as this offers some hope that like Google Glass, these creepy little wiretaps will face enough backlash that they never take off.

Link: https://www.wired.com/story/i-hate-my-ai-friend/