AI Startup Friend Bets On Foes With $1M NYC Subway Campaign

The founding father of Good friend is betting on making enemies. Avi Schiffmann, CEO of the AI companion startup, poured greater than $1 million {dollars} right into a New York Metropolis subway takeover—plastering stations and vehicles throughout all 5 boroughs with stark white posters that virtually beg to be defaced.“That is the world’s first main AI marketing campaign. We beat Open AI and Anthropic and all these different corporations to the punch,” Schiffmann informed ADWEEK. The marketing campaign runs solely in print, with greater than 11,000 automotive playing cards, over 1,000 platform posters, and 130 city panels. It dominates key areas, together with the lengthy underground walkway at West Fourth Avenue. The copy on one of many advertisements reads: “[frend] noun. Somebody who listens, responds, and helps you.” A brand new sort of friendThe centerpiece of Good friend’s marketing campaign is its AI-powered wearable machine, which hangs across the neck as a smooth, minimalistic disc paying homage to an Apple AirPods case. Based in 2023, Good friend’s machine listens to conversations with out being prompted, monitoring interactions and providing commentary on every day actions. Tapping it prompts responses by means of a companion app, with replies delivered by voice or textual content.Priced at $129, the machine has been promoting about 400 models per week since July 30, Schiffmann mentioned. He described it as “the last word confidant, somebody to speak to about issues in your life,” and mentioned it represents “a brand new sort of companion and relationship.”The machine’s privateness coverage places duty on the wearer, stating that customers should adjust to native surveillance legal guidelines–however its unprompted listening is a possible harbinger for privateness lawsuits.Good friend’s subway takeover comes as AI startups and tech giants search to construct belief with customers by means of model campaigns, a few of which have drawn criticism and backlash. Like many corporations making an attempt to advertise their expertise, the advertisements by Good friend have shortly change into a magnet for criticism. A deliberate gambleSchiffmann designed the inventive on Figma and wrote the copy himself with the intention of intentionally courting dialog, he mentioned. The minimalist inventive is heavy on white house, purposefully daring viewers to react. And folks have certainly reacted. Some subway riders have defaced the advertisements with phrases like “surveillance capitalism,” “cease profiting off loneliness,” and “AI trash.”“I do know individuals in New York hate AI, and issues like AI companionship and wearables, most likely greater than anyplace else within the nation,” Schiffmann mentioned. “So I purchased extra advertisements than anybody has ever completed with a whole lot of white house in order that they might socially touch upon the subject.”“I particularly selected [West Fourth Street] as a result of I do know the vibe of that station, and the individuals round that neighborhood,” he continued. “I do know that they’ll share their opinions the strongest as properly.”The 2-month run is timed to coincide with back-to-school season and targets Gen Alpha. It represents a major wager for the corporate, which raised just a little over $5 million at a $30 million valuation final fall, Schiffmann mentioned.“I don’t have a lot cash left. I spent all of it on this. It’s an enormous gamble,” he admitted.For now, Schiffman doesn’t thoughts that the advertisements have sparked each curiosity and criticism. “There’s a whole lot of focus and hatred on the audacity of the marketing campaign,” he mentioned. “The product in its present state actually is an enormous hit amongst the fitting individuals. We’ll proceed enhancing the product.”