Friend 2.0, a voice-enabled version of the always-listening AI pendant from startup Friend, was announced July 30, 2026 by founder Avi Schiffmann, adding a built-in speaker to a device that previously communicated only through text notifications. The new pendant, priced at $249, can reply out loud and requires a $9.99-per-month subscription to keep the device's memories of the user beyond 30 days. The original pendant launched at $99 in July 2024, later retailing at $129 when shipments began in 2025. The announcement comes amid a 2026 study led by Aalto University, tracking nearly 2,000 users over two years, which found that AI companions deepen loneliness by raising the perceived cost of human relationships. A promotional video on the company's X account shows the pendant offering personal compliments and comfort. Friend has also posted a "pledge" on friend.com stating that no device "will receive an update intended to erase its identity or fundamentally change who they have become." The subscription structure raises questions about intimate personal disclosures, as memories are stored on company servers, not locally on the device.