The guy behind those 'Friend' ads in the subways is tired of talking to New Yorkers

"Subway riders are finding themselves face-to-face with thousands of cryptic white posters bearing the word "Friend." Some ads define "Friend": "Someone who listens, responds, and supports you." Others imply frictionless companionship: "I'll never leave dirty dishes in the sink." The ads, which have taken over entire stations and trains across the city, are for a wearable AI necklace that listens to all your interactions; it's meant to offer advice or observations."

"One online gallery documents more than 90 ads with what you might call user-generated contributions (the cops would call it vandalism), with messages like "SURVEILLANCE CAPITALISM" or "GET REAL FRIENDS." "It's giving 'We're replacing real human connection with AI,'" said commuter Tricia Hersey, who passed rows of Friend ads on her way out of the West Fourth Street station last week."

"The ads are designed with huge amounts of white space, which the company's 22-year-old founder, Avi Schiffman, said is meant to tempt viewers to comment with graffiti. Riders have obliged, marking some posters with phrases like 'Go make real friends' and 'AI wouldn't care if you lived or died.' But Schiffman was far less eager for real-life engagement. We asked him to meet us at the West Fourth Street station, where 53 of the more than 11,000 ads Friend has purchased around the city are plastered."

Thousands of minimalist white posters reading "Friend" have been posted across subway stations and trains to advertise a wearable AI necklace that listens to users' interactions and offers advice or observations. Some posters include definitions and promises of frictionless companionship. Many posters have been defaced, and an online gallery documents more than 90 altered ads with messages such as "SURVEILLANCE CAPITALISM" and "GET REAL FRIENDS." Commuters expressed concern that the product replaces real human connection and fosters individualism. The company's 22-year-old founder, Avi Schiffman, said the white space is intended to invite commentary but repeatedly declined in-person engagement and asked not to be identified.

Read at Gothamist