New Yorkers rebel: AI startup’s million-dollar ad campaign gets defaced on the streets

An AI startup called Friend has filled New York City’s subway system with ads, spending more than $1 million on over 11,000 subway car ads, 1,000 platform posters, and 130 urban panels. The campaign started last week, but instead of positive attention, many New Yorkers are vandalizing, peeling, and writing on the ads.

The company’s CEO, Avi Schiffmann, said the backlash was intentional. He told Adweek: “I know people in New York hate AI, and things like AI companionship and wearables, probably more than anywhere else in the country. So I bought more ads than anyone has ever done with a lot of white space so that they would socially comment on the topic”, as per the report by Futurism.

AI ads in New York face backlash

The vandalized ads now carry angry handwritten messages like “stop profiting off of loneliness,” “AI wouldn’t care if you lived or died,” “go make real friends,” “this is surveillance,” and “AI will promote suicide when prompted”. These reactions reflect broader public worries about AI worsening loneliness and growing mistrust toward AI technology.

Critics point out that a CEO trolling an entire city seems at odds with a product that claims to “care” about users. The company’s main product is a $129 wearable gadget worn around the neck that listens to everything you say, which has raised serious privacy concerns, according to the report by Futurism.

AI wearable privacy concerns

Friend’s privacy policy says user data won’t be sold for marketing, but it may still be used for research and to comply with legal obligations like GDPR and CCPA, as well as to protect the rights and property of the company and third parties. The product itself has received poor reviews. Wired journalists tested Friend and found it to be snarky, sarcastic, unhelpful, argumentative, and holier-than-thou.

Schiffmann, who is 22 years old, has burned through the capital to stir controversy in one of the world’s largest cities. The piece notes that he seems more interested in rage-baiting New Yorkers than building genuine connections: “No need for friends when you can now pay to keep your enemy closest”, as stated in the report by Futurism.

FAQs

Q1. Why are New Yorkers vandalizing Friend AI ads?

New Yorkers are vandalizing the ads because many see AI as harmful to human connection and privacy, and the CEO expected this reaction.

Q2. What is the Friend AI wearable device?

Friend’s main product is a $129 neck gadget that listens to conversations, raising privacy and trust concerns.