The Friend AI pendant’s creator publicized a ‘Friend protest’ in NYC

The article discusses a protest against the Friend AI pendant, a $129 chatbot-enabling necklace that was recently launched with a subway ad campaign in New York City. The article highlights the following key points: 1. The Friend AI pendant has received mixed reviews, with some people finding it uncomfortable and not effective at its intended purpose of listening to conversations and providing feedback. 2. The protest took place on the same weekend as the worldwide No Kings protests, and was organized by the Friend AI pendant's founder, Avi Schiffmann. 3. The protest involved people using markers to deface the Friend AI pendant's advertisements, playing basketball while holding a paper cutout of the device, and chanting slogans like "Get real friends" and "Fuck AI." 4. Schiffmann claimed he had no part in planning the event, but attended and spoke to the crowd, finding it to be a "productive conversation" where they all shook hands at the end. 5. The article suggests that New Yorkers are not receptive to overzealous subway ads, especially those promoting AI as a replacement for human friendship.