As the founder and CEO of a healthy grocery delivery service. hungry root, ben mckean We explore the power of AI technology to improve your business. But with the launch of his new side project, the app, every — McKean wants to explore the use of AI to help people establish deeper relationships and find common ground with themselves and others.
Now organized as a nonprofit organization, Every’s iOS app leverages AI technology to create “thought-provoking games” aimed at self-discovery.
For example, all users start with a game called “Inner Odyssey.” The game challenges you to choose the photo that best represents the place you want to explore, from options such as cobblestone streets and natural landscapes featuring rivers and trees. Fantastic castles and remote islands. Follow-up questions are then asked, such as who you’ll be traveling with, what role you’ll play, and what travel advice resonates with you the most.
Image credits: every
As you play, the app will show you how other people have answered the same question, and when you finish you will be asked to confirm that anyone connected (i.e. the contact list you have uploaded) has answered the same question. Masu.
McKean said the idea of creating an app focused on human connection has been around for a while. It’s an idea he’s been thinking about, especially since the coronavirus pandemic has left everyone feeling more isolated than ever.
“So many people feel disconnected, even from those closest to them,” he explains. “58% of Americans report that they feel like no one in their life knows them well, which is a truly shocking statistic. And 70% of Americans % feel that mistrust is having a negative impact on American society,” McKean said. various Statistics on the prevalence of loneliness and connection.
Additionally, McKean says he has also felt the impact of these issues through his own entrepreneurial experience, where he learned how difficult it is to lead teams and build connections in the workplace. In fact, McKean foresees the possibility of tweaking Every’s model for use in the workplace, increasing co-worker bonding while reducing personal questions.
Despite the app’s focus on human connection, Every game is created using AI, specifically training large language models and technologies from OpenAI and Midjourney. You may be surprised to learn that it uses In addition to scratching his own itch, so to speak, McKean says the process has also helped him improve his AI skills, which could impact the core business of Hungry Root, an AI-heavy company. Stated.
Every game in the app is inspired by a topic or person that is the initial input to the AI.
For the latter, the company partners with inspirational leaders on several topics, including: Hector Guadalupefounder of 2nd U Foundation, will help you develop the skills to succeed in life after serving time in prison. Topics or people are used to set the context for the generative AI. Teams then create questions using the game’s structured format built into the prompt. (Guadalupe’s AI-inspired game will be released on his October 25th).
Since the team has only been training the model for six months, McKean said the AI’s output may still require human intervention, but essentially the AI is Create the whole thing. The images that accompany the game questions are created using Midjourney.
The plan is to release one new game each day, with a specific theme for each day of the week (hence the app’s name). For example, a Monday game may focus on career, a Friday game may be about fun, a Saturday game may be about family connections, and a Sunday game may be about spirituality or philosophy. McKean said Every also intends to adjust its games to timely events. So, in the case of the next presidential election, for example, politically related games may be played.
After playing the game, the app offers inspirational content that you can explore based on your answers, including videos focused on specific topics, such as pursuing your dreams or the importance of creativity.
Another tab in the app, “Maps,” uses AI to generate a map of your characteristics based on the points you earn while playing Every game. After trying out the first game, Maps told me that my main traits include things like reason and happiness in the simplest things, and I don’t think anyone would disagree with this. . You can also agree or disagree with the results if you agree or disagree to improve the analysis.
Image credits: all screenshots
The idea is that by playing these games, you not only become more self-aware, but also learn how to share commonalities with other people you know, thereby deepening your relationships. For example, an old friend may also enjoy traveling abroad, or a colleague may prioritize humility at work. As you learn from the insights the app shares, you may be inspired to take further action, such as joining the conversation about your discoveries.
“A lot of the mission around this is to facilitate connections with people, one-on-one connections, but also to help surface commonalities a little more holistically,” McKean said. “So part of the belief is that if you show everyone the same game, you can actually find common ground between people who are completely different.”
Image credits: all screenshots
Every is self-funded by McKean and run by two women. sarah mckean (Ben’s cousin) maya various, app development was handled through an outsourced company. The current plan is to run Every as a free app and side project. But if it takes off, McKean leaves the door open for it to expand into a larger business, potentially with investor support.
The app has been running in beta since March, but is now generally available today In the App Store. Free to download with no in-app purchases.