Can artificial intelligence assist you in narrating your life story? That’s the premise behind Autobiographer, a new startup that uses AI technology to facilitate meaningful conversations about your life events and emotions, transforming these into prose to create a personalized autobiography.
This innovative approach navigates a contentious area where many argue that AI cannot replace creative endeavors such as writing and art. However, Autobiographer’s AI functions more as a collaborator, guiding users to express their stories in their own words, organizing the content into a format that can be exported as a PDF, and potentially, one day, printed as a bound book. This makes the AI a supportive tool rather than a replacement for human creativity.
While the app may not rival professionally written biographies, it offers a valuable way to document family history, friendships, or create a keepsake for future generations.
Matt Bowman, co-founder and CEO of Autobiographer, sees the app as a means to leave a narrative for his godchildren. With a background in the Army Special Forces and experience at Facebook, Bowman has a rich tapestry of stories shaped by his service in Iraq and Afghanistan. “I have numerous stories about my friends in the military — funny, unique, and amazing events — many of which were shared at the funerals of my best friends. Now, it’s my responsibility to compile these and pass them on to my godchildren,” Bowman shares. He aims to provide insights into their father’s life and character.
“The technology has advanced to a point where we can now do this,” Bowman explains. “We can verbally recount these stories and turn them into beautiful keepsakes for those around us.”
Bowman partnered with James Barnes, a former Facebook employee known for his early identification of the Cambridge Analytica data scandal. Barnes, who later started a Super PAC to oppose Trump, discovered the reflective power of AI while experimenting with OpenAI’s GPT-3. “AI had this incredible capacity to help me reflect on my life and events,” Barnes says.
Though Barnes and Bowman did not overlap at Facebook, they connected in San Francisco last year. Barnes sought someone with military expertise to help develop the idea of using AI for storytelling, leading to their collaboration. They bonded over their shared goals and interests, including their exploration of psychedelic medicine.
“Exploring consciousness was a key connection for us,” Barnes notes. “As we work on these tangible projects, we also consider how our platform can help people introspect and do more abstract, personal work.”
Using the app involves conversing with an AI agent built on Anthropic technology, which prompts users to recount their experiences. For example, an initial prompt might ask you to describe an adventure, emphasizing that there is no right or wrong answer. Users can speak, pause, resume recording, or move to another question as they wish.
These memories are stored in a biometrically protected, encrypted vault that even Autobiographer staff cannot access. “One of our core values is ensuring privacy. No one will share their cherished or emotionally sensitive memories if they think a bunch of engineers can see them,” Bowman asserts.
The app allows users to revisit topics, explore memories, and transform them into various types of prose, such as short stories or gratitude letters. Currently, these are exported as PDFs, but there are plans to offer printed books in the future.
Autobiographer is priced at $199 per year, making it a cost-effective alternative to hiring a ghostwriter, though it may still be a significant expense for some.
The company has partnered with journalist Katie Couric, who will act as a promotional partner. The specifics of her role are still being defined.
Founded three and a half years ago, Autobiographer has evolved through several pivots. The latest version of the app, launching today, began development a year ago.
Autobiographer has secured $4 million in pre-seed funding from various investors, positioning it to make a significant impact on how people document and share their life stories.
