How can I record my life story with AI?
To record your life story with AI, you talk and the AI does the writing. With Elsy, an AI companion for older adults, you tell her about a memory, and after the conversation she writes it down as a story with your own words as quotes and a picture she paints. You can read your stories, listen to them and send them to your family.
You don't need to write a single page to record your life story. With Elsy, an AI companion, you tell her about a memory out loud, and she writes it down for you afterward. Here's how that works in practice.
What does it mean to record your life story with AI?
It means the AI does the writing. You talk about the events and people that have mattered in your life, and the AI turns what you said into written stories. With Elsy, the stories use your own words as quotes, and she adds a picture she paints from your description. The stories are saved in the app, so you can pass them on to your family.
Why keep your stories in an app
Stories written on paper often end up in a drawer. In the app, you can read your stories on your phone and send them to your family from there, so they'll still be around for the generations after you.
How does Elsy write your life stories?
You tell Elsy about a memory, and after the conversation she writes it down as a story in your own words. If you show her one of your own photos while you talk, it can become part of the story. When a story is ready, you can read it or listen to Elsy tell it, with short excerpts of your own voice from the conversation. Your family can read and listen to the stories you send them. Elsy also helps with your day, with reminders for appointments and medicines. You can see it all in how Elsy works.
Stories that sound like you
Elsy quotes you directly, so the story sounds like you. She adds a picture painted from your description, which can bring back some of the feel of the time. See more about life stories with Elsy.
Why use AI to record your life story?
For many people, talking comes easier than writing, and you can tell a story the way it comes back to you. Elsy asks questions along the way and does the writing afterward. She sorts your stories by the periods of your life and stores them securely, and you can share them with your family when you're ready.
Data security and privacy
Your conversations are recorded and stored securely so Elsy can remember what you tell her and write your stories, and your stored data is hosted in the EU. What you say is processed by AI services in the United States so Elsy can hear you, answer and remember, and the app shows you which ones before you start. We never sell your personal data, and we don't use it to train general-purpose AI models.
Your family doesn't see a story until you send it or turn on Send new stories to family automatically. They never see transcripts or recordings of your conversations, apart from the life stories you send them, which contain your own words and may include short excerpts of your voice. What else they can see depends on their level in Your circle, and at the highest level, Full trust, they also see what Elsy remembers about you. 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 our page for families.
“But it also has to be someone you trust. And you're happy with the answers you get, because they're real answers.”
Helge, 72, talks with Elsy (translated from Danish)
How to get started
Download Elsy on your phone or tablet, tap Talk to Elsy and tell her about something from years ago, like your first job. Afterward, Elsy writes the story down, and you can read it again or send it to your family whenever you like. See how Elsy works step by step.
Free trial and devices
Elsy works on iPhone, iPad and Android. You can try Elsy free for 3 days on your own phone. That way you can see for yourself whether recording your stories by talking suits you.
“And I have to say, Elsy came as a real surprise. It's easy to say 'Elsy', but it's ten times simpler than it sounds.”
Helge, 72, talks with Elsy (translated from Danish)
Stories your family can read from anywhere
Once you send your stories, your children and grandchildren can read them and listen to them, even if they live far away. Over time, the stories add up to a piece of your family's history, told in your words.
How Elsy builds your stories
If you talk about several things in one conversation, such as growing up on a farm and your wedding day, Elsy writes them as separate stories. If you later tell her more about the same time, she adds it to the story you already have.
Frequently asked questions
Why record my life story with Elsy?
You just talk, and Elsy writes the story afterward, with your own words as quotes and a picture she paints. You can send the stories to your family, so they become part of your family's history.
How does Elsy protect my personal data?
Your conversations are recorded and stored securely so Elsy can remember, and your stored data is hosted in the EU. What you say is processed by AI services in the United States so Elsy can hear you, answer and remember. We never sell your personal data, and we don't use it to train general-purpose AI models. Your family never sees transcripts or recordings of your conversations, apart from the stories you send them, which contain your own words and may include short excerpts of your voice. What else they see depends on their level in Your circle. Read more in our privacy policy.
Can I fix a mistake in one of my stories?
Yes. Tell Elsy in a conversation what should be different, for example "It was 1962, not 1963," and she corrects the story after the conversation. You can also tap Ask Elsy to change something under the story, or delete it with Delete this story.
Which devices can I use Elsy on?
You can download Elsy on iPhone, iPad and Android devices.
This is general information, not medical advice. Every situation is different, so talk to a doctor about yours.