How do life stories with Elsy work?

With Elsy, you can tell and keep the stories from your life that matter most to you. You talk, and afterward Elsy writes the story down with your own words as quotes. You can read your stories, listen to them and send them to your family and friends.

With Elsy, you tell the stories of your life out loud, and she writes them down for you and your family to keep. Here's how it works.

What Life stories is

Life stories is the part of Elsy that keeps the stories from your life. When you talk with Elsy, you can tell her about your experiences, the big events and the small moments that mean something to you. Elsy writes your stories down with your own words as quotes, so you can share them with your family. Over time they become a collection of your life's experiences, and a way to stay close to your family and let them learn more about your life.

Why keep your stories?

Telling Elsy your life stories gives you a chance to look back on your life, and it can strengthen your ties with your family. The people closest to you get to know your experiences, which can bring the family closer. There's also value in passing your family's history on to the next generations.

How it works

To create a life story, just start talking with Elsy. Tell her about something you've experienced, and after the conversation she writes it up as a story you can keep and share with your family, with a picture she paints from your description. Elsy uses your own words as quotes, so the story sounds like you. You can read the story or listen to Elsy tell it, with short excerpts of your own voice from the conversation.

Getting started

Install the app on your iPhone, iPad or Android device, tap Talk to Elsy and start telling her about your experiences. Your stories are kept under Profile and Life stories, so you can send them to your family whenever you like. See how Elsy works step by step.

Finishing and sharing a story

When a story is ready, you can share it with your family: tap Send to family at the bottom of the story, or tell Elsy "Share the story about the ferry with my family." If something needs fixing first, tap Ask Elsy to change something. Everyone in Your circle can read the stories you send them, and the level each person has decides what else they can see. If a family member set Elsy up and gave consent on your behalf, everyone in your circle is at Full trust, the highest level, where they also see what Elsy remembers about you. Read more about what your family can see.

Made for older adults

Elsy is made for older adults who want to stay close to the people they love and keep their life stories alive. Talking with Elsy takes no technical skill, which makes her a good fit if you find other technology difficult. Because you simply talk with her, Elsy can easily become part of your daily routine. She also helps with your day, with reminders for appointments and medicines.

Simple to start

All you need is a smartphone or an iPad, and the conversation itself involves no menus or settings. That makes Elsy easy for most people to get started with.

Your own words, your own voice

Elsy uses your own words, so each story feels personal and sounds the way you'd tell it. The spoken version can include short excerpts of your own voice from the conversation, so your family can hear you tell part of it yourself. If you'd rather not have your voice included, turn off My own voice in the spoken stories.

Bringing your family closer

When your family reads your stories, they learn how you think about things and understand your life better. That can bring the family together and connect the generations, even when you live far apart. Read more about staying close when your family lives far away.

Sharing with your family

Your family can read the life stories you send them, and it's free for them. If there's no one in your circle yet, Send to family opens your phone's own sharing options, so you can send a link by text message or email. Whoever opens the link joins Your circle and can read the story.

Where your stories are kept

Your stories are kept digitally, so they can be read and shared. 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. So that Elsy can hear you, answer and remember, what you say is processed by AI services in the United States. We never sell your personal data, and we don't use it to train general-purpose AI models. You can delete a story whenever you like, and everything is deleted if you delete your account.

How to get started

Download Elsy from the App Store or Google Play, tap Talk to Elsy and tell her about something from years ago, like your first job. You can try Elsy free for 3 days on your own phone. Read more about choosing an app for recording your life stories.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get started with my life stories?

Download the app on your iPhone, iPad or Android device. Then start talking with Elsy, and she writes your stories down.

How are my life stories kept private?

Elsy stores your stories securely, and your stored data is hosted in the EU. Your family doesn't see your stories until you send them or turn on Send new stories to family automatically. Your family never sees transcripts or recordings of your conversations. The stories you send contain your own words and may include short excerpts of your voice.

Which devices does Elsy work on?

Elsy works on iPhone, iPad and Android devices. You'll find the app on the App Store and Google Play.

Can Elsy write life stories for more than one person?

Yes. Each person can have their own Elsy on their own phone or iPad, and Elsy writes each person's life stories separately.

This is general information, not medical advice. Every situation is different, so talk to a doctor about yours.