Two AI initiatives named FRIEND, every led by totally different builders, are on the heart of a ‘Twitter Beef’ over their distinct approaches to AI expertise.
Nic Shevchenko and Avi Schiffmann are behind the 2 distinct AI initiatives, sparking debate over privateness, open-source versus industrial improvement, and the moral implications of AI companions. Shevchenko’s FRIEND is an open-source AI wearable that information conversations and presents summaries and recommendation. In distinction, Schiffmann’s Buddy.com supplies a industrial AI companion that includes a conversational AI designed for emotional assist and companionship.
Shevchenko sarcastically congratulated Schiffmann on the launch of Buddy.com with a ‘rap diss monitor‘ within the vein of Kendrick Lamar vs Drake, like one thing out of the TV present Silicon Valley. He additionally supplied to struggle Schiffmann, posting an image of him flexing together with his FRIEND round his neck. Shevchenko claimed that Schiffmann “jacked his type” and he “spent a mill on a reputation, can’t ship a factor” after he reportedly spent $1.8 million of the $2.5 million he raised on the area buddy.com. The FRIEND gadget launched first by means of its firm, Primarily based {Hardware}, whereas Schiffmann reportedly registered the buddy.com area title earlier. Schiffmann’s preliminary venture title was Tab, which was later rebranded as Buddy.
Shevchenko’s FRIEND emphasizes transparency and neighborhood involvement. It’s an open-source customizable gadget that customers can construct and modify. It’s powered by the nRF52840 chip and boasts a battery life exceeding 24 hours. The venture has engaged the neighborhood by means of Kickstarter and design contests, reflecting Shevchenko’s philosophy of accessible and clear expertise improvement. FRIEND is on the market in a ‘dev package’ for £39 on the venture’s web site, which comes within the type of a 3D printed gadget that interfaces with a cell app accessible on iOS and Android.
Then again, Schiffmann’s Buddy.com is a consumer-oriented product priced at $99. It contains a small, pendant-like gadget with a 15-hour battery life linked to a smartphone through Bluetooth. The AI, pushed by fashions like ChatGPT, listens to conversations and presents personalised responses, aiming to offer companionship fairly than simply productiveness enhancements. The launch video exhibits a number of customers interacting with the gadget whereas consuming, watching TV, and even on a date. One scene exhibits a person commenting on how she takes ‘her’ in all places in regards to the buddy.com pendant. Schiffmann’s venture has garnered vital funding and a focus, highlighted by the acquisition of the area buddy.com for $1.8 million, indicating a strong push towards broad shopper adoption.
A major PR push on July 31 for buddy.com has seen protection in a number of information shops for the companion gadget, with many commenting on its launch video’s similarity to a Black Mirror episode. In distinction, Shevchenko’s gadget acts extra like a ‘second mind,’ listening to conversations and offering summaries which are searchable and accessible by means of the supporting in-app chatbot. It permits customers to take notes in conferences with out breaking focus or shortly recall the names of recent acquaintances with out embarrassment.
The broader X (previously Twitter) discourse surrounding these initiatives reveals divergent views. Privateness is a central concern, with customers questioning the implications of gadgets that repeatedly hearken to conversations. Specific scrutiny is given to how these initiatives handle person information, particularly given the non-public nature of the interactions they facilitate. Some argue that whereas Shevchenko’s open-source method presents extra transparency, it doesn’t solely mitigate privateness considerations. Nevertheless, the dev kits permit customers to replace API endpoints in-app to their very own endpoints. Others specific skepticism about Schiffmann’s industrial mannequin, fearing a possible over-reliance on AI companions that might alter human relationships.
The controversy extends to the character of human interplay, with considerations about AI’s affect on social dynamics. Critics fear in regards to the results of utilizing AI for companionship, suggesting it may result in a diminished want for human connection. Conversely, some supporters worth AI’s potential to offer emotional assist, notably for people missing social interplay.
Shevchenko’s initiative stands out for its open-source ethos, inviting neighborhood engagement and fostering innovation by means of transparency. Schiffmann’s venture, nevertheless, represents a extra conventional industrial method, aiming for a cultured person expertise and broader market attain. The contrasting methods spotlight a elementary divide within the tech neighborhood: the steadiness between openness and proprietary management and the moral concerns of growing AI companions.
