Is there an easy digital helper for my mom?
Yes. Elsy is an AI companion you talk with, so there are no menus to learn. If you're not used to technology, you can download Elsy on your phone or tablet, tap one button and start talking. Elsy can remind you about appointments and medicines, answer questions and write down your life stories, and a family member can help set her up.
If you're not used to technology, it can be hard to find a digital tool that suits you. Elsy gives you a simple way to get help with everyday tasks and to stay in touch with your family.
What is Elsy, and how can she help?
Elsy is an AI companion made to help older adults with everyday life. She can help you with reminders and medicines, look things up for you and write down your life stories. Because Elsy is made to be simple, she's a good fit if you're not used to technology. You do have to download the app, but after that you don't need any technical know-how: you just talk. That can make it easier to manage more of your day yourself and give it some structure.
Easy to talk to
You talk with Elsy using your voice, in ordinary sentences, just as you'd talk to a person. There are no complicated menus to find your way around, and you don't have to learn special commands. Researchers who studied how older people use voice assistants note that these assistants take very little technical experience, so you can use them however familiar you are with digital tools.
“It's just such a relief to say to Elsy: I don't know anything about this. And it's embarrassing, because a man my age ought to know it. And then she tells me: Don't worry about that. Let me help you.”
Helge, 72, talks with Elsy (translated from Danish)
How does Elsy work?
Elsy is a simple app you can download on regular iPhones, iPads and Android devices. Once the app is installed, you tap Talk to Elsy and start talking. She can answer your questions, help you plan your day and write down your life stories, which you can send to your family.
According to the US National Institute on Aging, social activities and other activities you enjoy may help you maintain your well-being and independence as you age.
Talking with Elsy every day
Talking with Elsy every day can give your day some structure. She helps you remember appointments, so you can spend your energy on what matters to you. Say something like "Remind me about the hairdresser on Friday at 11," and the reminder arrives as a notification on your phone.
What it means for your family
With Elsy, your family can follow how you're doing, depending on their level in Your circle. That can mean a lot to family who live far away. There are five levels, from Stories only, where they see only the life stories you send, to Full trust, where they also see what Elsy remembers about you. If you set Elsy up yourself, you choose the level for each person. If a family member set Elsy up and gave consent on your behalf, everyone in your circle is at Full trust. Your family can read more on the page for families.
Life stories you can share
When you tell Elsy about your life, she writes the story up afterward, with your own words as quotes and a picture painted by Elsy. You can send a story to your family whenever you like, so they have your stories and memories too. It can help your children and grandchildren see your life in a new way. See how life stories with Elsy work.
A first step into digital technology
For many older adults, digital technology can feel overwhelming. In a Pew Research Center survey, about three in four Americans 65 and older said that when they get a new device, they usually need someone else to set it up or show them how to use it. Elsy can be an easy place to start, because you just talk. From there, you can find out what else digital tools can do for you. See also why getting started with AI can be easier than you might think.
Help getting started
Elsy helps with medicines, reminders and conversation, and that can make technology feel more manageable day to day. If you need help getting started, a family member can set Elsy up for you.
Elsy and your privacy
Your conversations are recorded and stored securely so Elsy can remember what you tell her, your stored data is hosted in the EU, and we never sell your personal data. What you say is processed by AI services in the United States so Elsy can hear you and answer. Your family can see summaries of how you're doing, but never transcripts or recordings of your conversations, apart from the life stories you send, which contain your own words and can include short excerpts of your voice. What else they see depends on their level, up to what Elsy remembers about you at Full trust.
How your data is handled
Your conversations with Elsy are stored securely and are never used to train general AI models. Read more about how your conversations and reminders are kept private.
How to get started
Download Elsy from the App Store or Google Play, or ask someone in your family for help. Open the app and tap Talk to Elsy. You can try Elsy free for 3 days on your own phone. Here's how Elsy works, step by step.
Frequently asked questions
How do I set up Elsy?
Download the app on a smartphone or tablet, open it and tap Talk to Elsy. If a family member wants to set Elsy up for you, they can do it from their own phone and send you a link or a QR code that you open Elsy with.
Does Elsy work without an internet connection?
No. Elsy needs the internet to hear you, answer and look things up. Your phone needs to be on Wi-Fi or mobile data.
Is Elsy safe to use?
Your conversations are stored securely, your stored data is hosted in the EU, and we never sell your personal data. What you say is processed by AI services in the United States so Elsy can hear you and answer.
This is general information, not medical advice. Every situation is different, so talk to a doctor about yours.