Part 9/12:
Avi plans to ship the first batch of 30,000 Friend devices in January, priced at $99 with no subscription fees—an accessible price point designed to attract early adopters and build trust. He acknowledges the hurdles in hardware development and the importance of maintaining a straightforward approach to ensure reliability.
He also recognizes potential concerns about forming close bonds with AI, emphasizing that the device is meant to be an additional friend—not a replacement. His goal is to create something lighthearted, akin to a toy, but with the potential to evolve into deeper, ongoing digital relationships.