Can AI Help You Tell Your Story?
That’s the innovative concept behind Autobiographer, a startup utilizing AI technology to foster engaging conversations about personal experiences and emotions. By transforming these insights into prose, the app effectively creates your own autobiography.
This startup enters a contentious space—many argue that AI cannot replace art, writing, and other forms of creative expression. However, in the case of Autobiographer, AI serves as a guiding collaborator, helping users articulate their narratives in their own words. The app organizes these stories into a downloadable PDF format, and, potentially in the future, physical books.
While it might not replace professionally written autobiographies, Autobiographer provides a valuable means to document family histories, friendships, or cherished keepsakes for future generations.
Co-founder and CEO Matt Bowman envisions the app as a narrative gift for his godchildren. Before his role at Facebook in the Bay Area, Bowman served in the Army Special Forces and was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, experiences that profoundly influenced his outlook.
"I have countless great stories about my military friends—so many unique and memorable moments, many shared during the funerals of those I lost. Now, I need to find a way to compile those stories for my godchildren," Bowman explains. He wants them to learn more about their father, his military experiences, and his personality.
"The technology is finally at a point where we can tell these stories, articulate them verbally, and turn them into beautiful keepsakes for others," he adds.
Bowman partnered with James Barnes, who also previously worked at Facebook during the 2016 and 2018 elections. Barnes was among the first to identify issues in the Cambridge Analytica data scandal, which led to numerous depositions and subpoenas. After leaving Facebook, he founded a Super PAC to challenge Trump. While exploring OpenAI’s GPT-3, Barnes discovered that AI could help him process significant life events.
“Artificial intelligence has this remarkable ability to reflect on my experiences and narrative,” says Barnes.
Although Bowman and Barnes did not work together at Facebook, they connected last year in San Francisco as Barnes sought someone with military insights to help the team—including co-founders Luke Schoenfelder and Ivan Almaral—explore AI-driven storytelling. They bonded over shared goals and interests, including psychedelic research.
“Exploring consciousness was a significant point of connection for us,” Barnes notes. “While we focus on practical applications, we also consider how our platform can encourage introspection and personal exploration.”
Using the Autobiographer App
Engaging with the app involves conversations with an AI agent that utilizes Anthropic technology to prompt your storytelling. For instance, you may start with a prompt asking you to share an adventure, with the assurance that there are no right or wrong responses. You can speak freely, pause and resume, or even switch to another question as desired.
Your memories are securely stored in a biometrically protected and encrypted vault—ensuring that even Autobiographer staff cannot access your cherished stories.
“From the outset, my co-founders and I understood that people are hesitant to share personal memories with a platform that may expose their feelings to engineers or advertisers,” Bowman emphasizes.
The app allows users to revisit themes, delve into their memories, and ultimately craft various types of prose, such as short stories or gratitude letters for loved ones. Presently, these can be exported as PDFs, with aspirations of offering printed books in the future.
The annual subscription for Autobiographer is $199—an attractive option compared to hiring a ghostwriter, though it may still be a bit steep for some users.
Additionally, the startup is collaborating with journalist Katie Couric, who will promote the app, although her specific role is yet to be defined.
Founded three and a half years ago, Autobiographer has undergone multiple pivots. The current iteration of the app, launching today, has been under development for the past year.
The company has secured $4 million in pre-seed funding from various investors, allowing it to continue its mission to empower personal storytelling through advanced AI.
Ranking
