Friend AI pendant creator Avi Schiffmann calls for NYC ‘Friend protest’
When Avi Schiffmann posted a flyer on Instagram, it instantly sparked chatter. He’s the guy behind the Friend AI pendant, and the image showed a taped-up sheet with the gadget front-and-center. The headline read, “I heard you New Yorkers got beef with me.
Let’s hash this out once and for-all, before we go bankrupt.” Below that, a time and place for a meet-up were listed - I didn’t copy the exact details. Then there’s a handwritten note that starts “bring …” and just stops, so we’re not sure what he’s asking for. The vibe is casual, almost like a neighborhood block party invitation, yet it feels like a response to the criticism the device has been getting around the city.
It’s not often a hardware-focused AI startup reaches out publicly like this; instead of a quiet rollout, Schiffmann seems to want a conversation. Whether enough people will show up in New York City is still an open question.
Friend founder Avi Schiffmann posted an image of a taped-up flyer that pictured the device, which read, “I heard you new yorkers got beef with me. Let’s hash this out once and for-all, before we go bankrupt.” The flyer also gave a time and place to meet up, along with a handwritten missive to “bring your markers.” Based on images and videos that probably weren’t generated by Sora, the Sunday “event” really did take place. Schiffmann’s post shows people using Sharpies to deface a Friend banner, including one person writing, “Fuck AI”; a chalk drawing of a sad-faced Friend device; and people seeming to play basketball while holding a paper or cardboard cut-out of the Friend device. When reached for comment on whether Friend organized the protest and whether the attendees were organic, Schiffmann told The Verge that he had no part in planning the event, adding that he took a red-eye flight to New York to be there because people sent him photos of the ads.
The Friend AI pendant has turned into a kind of street art in the New York subway - stickers on car interiors, doodles on tunnel walls. Some commuters have laughed, spray-painting jokes; others have ripped the cut-out out and shouted “get real friends.” Avi Schiffmann answered with a taped flyer that admits the city’s irritation and asks people to show up for a meeting, even adding a handwritten note that says participants should “bring …”. The flyer mixes a tongue-in-cheek vibe with a warning that the backlash could push the company toward bankruptcy, hinting that money and public opinion are linked.
Whether that meetup will actually shift how many people use the pendant, or how the brand is viewed, is still up in the air. Critics might call the protest a publicity stunt, while fans could see it as a grassroots pushback against a gadget that feels too nosy. As the date draws near, we’ll be watching for any concrete results, though it’s hard to say if the pendant’s market path will really change.
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Common Questions Answered
What specific item did Avi Schiffmann post to social media to rally the 'Friend protest'?
Avi Schiffmann posted an image of a taped-up flyer that pictured the Friend AI pendant device. This flyer served as the primary announcement and invitation for the protest event in New York City.
What was the handwritten instruction on the flyer that Avi Schiffmann shared?
The handwritten instruction on the flyer asked participants to 'bring your markers'. This suggests the event involved an activity where attendees would use markers, likely for writing or drawing in response to the protest.
How have New Yorkers previously expressed their reaction to the Friend AI pendant in the subway?
New Yorkers have expressed reactions ranging from amused graffiti to outright destruction of a cut-out of the pendant, with demonstrators chanting 'get real friends'. The device had become a common visual fixture within the subway system, prompting these public responses.
What was the stated reason on the flyer for calling the 'Friend protest' meeting?
The flyer stated the reason was to 'hash this out once and for-all, before we go bankrupt'. This indicates the protest was organized to address public discontent directly, potentially due to negative reactions impacting the company's viability.