The Future of UX: A Deep Dive into the AI Friend

TL;DR: The AI Friend and Its Impact on UX Design

Patricia Reiners
4 min readAug 21, 2024

in this blogpost we’re diving into the AI Friend, a groundbreaking device designed to combat loneliness using artificial intelligence. This post is based on a podcast episode of the Future of UX Podcast. The AI freind was created by Avi Schiffman and this neck-worn companion offers constant emotional support, sending encouraging messages and helping users feel less isolated. We’ll explore its design, emotional impact, ethical concerns, and potential future in the AI market. If you’re into UX design or curious about AI’s role in emotional support, this is for you:

AI friend necklace source: Techradar

Today, we’re taking a closer look at the AI Friend — a fascinating, and somewhat controversial, piece of technology that’s designed to combat loneliness. As UX designers, it’s crucial to understand how this device can impact users emotionally and socially, so let’s dive in.

What is the AI Friend?

The AI Friend is the brainchild of Avi Schiffman, a tech innovator who first gained fame with his COVID-19 tracking website. Originally, the AI Friend was envisioned as a productivity tool, but Avi and his team noticed a growing demand for something more emotionally supportive. This led them to pivot towards creating a device that provides…

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Patricia Reiners

UX/UI Designer from Berlin and an Adobe Creative Resident 2019 ✨ I am passionate about future cities, technology and innovation.