New 80 AI ‘Friend’ necklace is designed to combat loneliness, but do psychologists think it will work? [Video]

08:44 EDT 02 Aug 2024, updated 09:10 EDT 02 Aug 2024

It may remind you of your childhood pocket Tamagotchi but ‘Friend’, an AI-powered necklace that listens to your every word, is designed to make you feel less lonely.

At least that’s according to its creators who have launched pre-orders for their ‘not imaginary’ friend.

Priced at $99 (£77) the so-called digital companion is an always on wearable chatbot that listens to and then communicates with it’s owner via messages and notifications on a paired phone 

A high value marketing video demonstrating the device has been likened to an episode of the sci-fi series ‘Black Mirror‘.

Taking to social media users said the clip was more like a ‘marketing campaign for a dystopic film or the beginning of civilization collapse’. 

Psychologists are also unconvinced the wearable AI companion will alleviate loneliness warning that it isfar from a replacement for ‘human connection’ and users risk ‘catfishing’ themselves into believing …