Friend app

Friend, a wearable AI pendant launched in 2025, continuously records audio, video, and biometric data, raising privacy concerns under laws like Illinois' BIPA. The company's privacy policy (v2) states it collects biometric data, retains data for over five years under certain conditions, and uses personal data to train machine learning models, while NBC Bay Area reported claims that audio recordings are not stored. Shipments, initially announced for Q1 2025, were delayed to at least Q3 2025.

Friend app | Basic Information | | |---|---| | Release Year | 2025 | | Product Type | AI chatbot, wearable | | In Production | Yes | | Official Website | | Friend is a wearable artificial intelligence /w/Artificial intelligence AI pendant device that aims to provide conversation and companionship. Consumer-impact summary edit /index.php?title=Friend app&veaction=edit§ion=1 | edit source /index.php?title=Friend app&action=edit§ion=1 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 and various state-federal frameworks. 1 cite note-FriendPPv2-1 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 and data practices edit /index.php?title=Friend app&veaction=edit§ion=2 | edit source /index.php?title=Friend app&action=edit§ion=2 Friend’s official privacy policy v2 states that it serves as a “data controller” under GDPR and collects personal data from use of the services. 1 cite note-FriendPPv2-1 Key practices include: - Collection of name, phone, e-mail, account credentials, uploaded content, and ambient video/audio from device surroundings. 1 cite note-FriendPPv2-1 - Collection of biometric data including facial and voice recognition. 1 cite note-FriendPPv2-1 - Retention of data for over five years if "legal, regulatory, or technical reasons" prevent deletion. 1 cite note-FriendPPv2-1 - Use of personal data to train machine learning models powering Friend. 1 cite note-FriendPPv2-1 Media reporting highlights possible discrepancies: - NBC Bay Area reported the company claims it "will not store any audio recordings." 2 cite note-NBC-2 - Wired reported the pendant is always-on and continuously listening for conversation. 3 cite note-Wired-3 Legal and regulatory environment edit /index.php?title=Friend app&veaction=edit§ion=3 | edit source /index.php?title=Friend app&action=edit§ion=3 The Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act BIPA requires entities to obtain written consent before collecting biometric identifiers, provide retention schedules, and limit data storage. 4 The Illinois Supreme Court's 2019 Rosenbach decision expanded standing for consumers to sue. 5 cite note-5 Analysts warn that devices like Friend raise risks under BIPA and similar laws, especially when data is used for AI training. 6 Federal and state regulators increasingly classify biometric identifiers as sensitive data requiring special protection. 7 cite note-KPMG-7 Precedents and industry comparisons edit /index.php?title=Friend app&veaction=edit§ion=4 | edit source /index.php?title=Friend app&action=edit§ion=4 The Clearview AI /w/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. 8 cite note-8 Competitor devices, such as the Limitless pendant, advertise a more limited data policy, not permitting ambient biometric capture. 9 cite note-9 Company responses and disputes edit /index.php?title=Friend app&veaction=edit§ion=5 | edit source /index.php?title=Friend app&action=edit§ion=5 The company asserts that: - Friend does not store audio recordings permanently. 2 cite note-NBC-2 - Data deletion requests can be submitted, though model training may make deletion incomplete. 1 cite note-FriendPPv2-1 Operational issues have been reported; the company delayed initial shipments announced for Q1 2025 until at least Q3 2025. 10 cite note-TechCrunch-10 Consumer response edit /index.php?title=Friend app&veaction=edit§ion=6 | edit source /index.php?title=Friend app&action=edit§ion=6 Consumer advocates and analysts have identified key risks for consumers: - Constant ambient recording of private environments. 3 cite note-Wired-3 - Shifting liability to users for privacy violations of third parties. 1 cite note-FriendPPv2-1 - Biometric sensitivity: face and voice identifiers are permanent. 7 cite note-KPMG-7 - Risk that deletion requests are ineffective once data is used to train AI models. 1 cite note-FriendPPv2-1 Shipment delay January 2025 edit /index.php?title=Friend app&veaction=edit§ion=7 | edit source /index.php?title=Friend app&action=edit§ion=7 Friend announced initial shipments to pre-order customers in Q1 2025 but later delayed deliveries until Q3 2025. 10 cite note-TechCrunch-10 See also edit /index.php?title=Friend app&veaction=edit§ion=8 | edit source /index.php?title=Friend app&action=edit§ion=8 References edit /index.php?title=Friend app&veaction=edit§ion=9 | edit source /index.php?title=Friend app&action=edit§ion=9 - ↑ 1.0 cite ref-FriendPPv2 1-0 1.1 cite ref-FriendPPv2 1-1 1.2 cite ref-FriendPPv2 1-2 1.3 cite ref-FriendPPv2 1-3 1.4 cite ref-FriendPPv2 1-4 1.5 cite ref-FriendPPv2 1-5 1.6 cite ref-FriendPPv2 1-6 1.7 cite ref-FriendPPv2 1-7 1.8 cite ref-FriendPPv2 1-8 "Friend – Privacy Policy v2" https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.friend.com/privacy.pdf PDF . Friend . 14 Jun 2025. Archived from the original https://www.friend.com/privacy.pdf PDF on 1 Oct 2025. Retrieved 1 Oct 2025. - ↑ 2.0 cite ref-NBC 2-0 2.1 cite ref-NBC 2-1 "Meet the AI startup that wants to give you a friend" https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/tech/friend-com-launches-product-preview/3611528/ . NBC Bay Area . 1 Feb 2025. Archived from the original https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/tech/friend-com-launches-product-preview/3611528/ on 1 Oct 2025. Retrieved 1 Oct 2025. - ↑ 3.0 cite ref-Wired 3-0 3.1 cite ref-Wired 3-1 "Wear This AI Friend Around Your Neck" https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.wired.com/story/friend-ai-pendant/ . Wired . 15 Mar 2025. Archived from the original https://www.wired.com/story/friend-ai-pendant/ on 1 Oct 2025. Retrieved 1 Oct 2025. ↑ cite ref-4 "Biometric Information Privacy Act" https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=095-0994 . Illinois General Assembly . 2008. Archived from the original https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=095-0994 on 1 Oct 2025. Retrieved 2025-10-01. ↑ cite ref-5 "The Who, Why, and Where of Biometric Privacy Litigation" https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.americanbar.org/groups/antitrust law/resources/source/2025-june/biometric-privacy-litigation/ . American Bar Association . 1 Jun 2025. Archived from the original https://www.americanbar.org/groups/antitrust law/resources/source/2025-june/biometric-privacy-litigation/ on 1 Oct 2025. Retrieved 1 Oct 2025. ↑ cite ref-6 "Biometric Privacy and AI Legal Developments" https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.lexisnexis.com/pdf/practical-guidance/ai/biometric-privacy-and-ai-legal-dev.pdf PDF . LexisNexis . 2025. Archived from the original https://www.lexisnexis.com/pdf/practical-guidance/ai/biometric-privacy-and-ai-legal-dev.pdf PDF on 1 Oct 2025. Retrieved 1 Oct 2025.- ↑ 7.0 cite ref-KPMG 7-0 7.1 cite ref-KPMG 7-1 "AI and Privacy: A Look at Biometric Tech & Data" 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 . KPMG . 2025. Archived from the original https://kpmg.com/us/en/articles/2025/ai-and-privacy-a-look-at-biometric-tech-and-data-reg-alert.html on 1 Oct 2025. Retrieved 1 Oct 2025. ↑ cite ref-8 "$51.75M Settlement in Clearview AI Biometric Privacy Litigation" 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/ . Regulatory Oversight . 12 Apr 2025. Archived from the original 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/ on 1 Oct 2025. Retrieved 1 Oct 2025. ↑ cite ref-9 "Privacy – Limitless" https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.limitless.ai/privacy . Limitless.ai . 2025. Archived from the original https://www.limitless.ai/privacy on 1 Oct 2025. Retrieved 1 Oct 2025.- ↑ 10.0 cite ref-TechCrunch 10-0 10.1 cite ref-TechCrunch 10-1 "Friend delays shipments of its AI companion pendant" https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/20/friend-delays-shipments-of-its-ai-companion-pendant/ . TechCrunch . 20 Jan 2025. Archived from the original https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/20/friend-delays-shipments-of-its-ai-companion-pendant/ on 1 Oct 2025. Retrieved 1 Oct 2025.