# Wired says Friend 2 is louder and less interesting

- Published: 2026-10-14T11:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-15T10:07:32.295Z
- Section: AI in practice
- Topics: Hardware
- Page: https://aidailyjournal.com/en/n/2026/10/14/wired-says-friend-2-is-louder-and-less-interesting/
- Sources: [Wired](https://wired.com/story/my-friend-has-no-soul)

## Summary

Wired reviewed the Friend 2, the second-generation AI chatbot pendant created by Avi Schiffmann. The device arrived in July for $249, $100 more than the original, and runs on OpenAI’s latest language models. It picks up nearby sound, lets users start conversations by tapping it and sometimes speaks without prompting; it also builds a memory map of conversations.

In Wired’s experience, the device took several taps to stop talking and delivered generic commentary in a tinny voice. Schiffmann had said each device would have a fixed personality, but the magazine reports that the app allows users to change the name and create multiple personas, which seemed barely different from one another. Friend 2 appeared shortly before Meta announced its Muse pendant, and Friend is working on another pendant that looks similar to Meta’s product, the article says.

## Why it matters (editorial interpretation)

Wired’s experience suggests that, for conversational devices that pick up nearby sound and may speak without prompting, control over when to stop the interaction is a central usability issue. The difference between the fixed personality described by Schiffmann and the options found in the app could also complicate the product’s positioning.

_Summary written by AI Daily Journal in its own words, based on the sources above. For details, read the original articles._