"An A.I company just spent $1 million+ on print advertising in nyc, one of the biggest campaigns ever done.. only for it to be immediately graffitied by locals from r/interestingasfuck Created by Friend's 22-year-old CEO Avi Schiffmann, it seems the campaign was engineered to spark backlash. In response to a curious commenter on X who wrote, "Tell me the graffiti was part of the original print," Avi simply responded, "Why do you think I left so much white space?""
"Across NYC subway stations, ads reading "I'll never bail on dinner plans" and "I'll binge the entire series with you" were thrust in front of commuters, quickly leading to heated graffiti responses. Many criticised the ads for taking advantage of human loneliness, while others defaced the billboards with messages like "Go make real friends. This is surveillance," and "AI wouldn't care if you lived or died.""
Friend launched a high-profile subway advertising campaign in NYC for its AI companion product, using minimalist billboards that promised constant companionship. The campaign reportedly cost over $1 million and targeted commuters with lines such as "I'll never bail on dinner plans" and "I'll binge the entire series with you." The ads prompted immediate backlash and graffiti, with messages accusing the product of surveillance and emotional exploitation. Online communities amplified the responses, and the company’s CEO publicly suggested the adverts anticipated defacement by leaving large white spaces. Critics labeled the marketing as rage-baiting and harmful to AI skeptics.
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