Ben McKean, the founder and CEO of the healthy grocery delivery service Hungryroot, has been exploring the potential of AI technologies to enhance his business. With the introduction of his latest venture, an app called Every, McKean aims to harness AI to help individuals establish deeper connections with both themselves and others, fostering common ground.
Every, currently organized as a nonprofit, offers an iOS app that utilizes AI technologies to create engaging “thought-provoking games” centered around self-discovery. As an example, users start with a game called “Inner Odyssey,” which prompts them to select a photo representing a place they’d like to explore, such as a city street, a natural landscape, a fantasy castle, or a remote island. Subsequent questions delve into travel companions, roles, and resonating advice.
The app allows users to see how others respond to the same questions, and they can also view their contacts’ responses if they’ve uploaded their contact list. The concept for Every was conceived as a response to the growing sense of disconnection, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, where many people felt isolated. McKean cites statistics indicating that a significant portion of the population feels disconnected from those close to them and that distrust is damaging to society.
McKean envisions the possibility of adapting Every’s model for use in workplaces to help colleagues form stronger bonds, although with less personal questioning. Despite its focus on human connectivity, Every’s games were developed using AI, with inspiration drawn from various topics or individuals serving as initial inputs for the AI.
The app plans to release a new game every day, with each day of the week revolving around a specific theme, such as careers, fun, family connections, or spirituality. The games are also intended to align with timely events, like elections. After playing the games, users receive inspirational content based on their responses, including videos on various topics.
The app’s “Map” feature generates a trait-based map using AI, reflecting points earned while playing the games. This map provides insights into a user’s personality traits. The ultimate goal of Every is to enhance self-awareness and help users discover common ground with others, potentially leading to deeper connections and meaningful conversations.
Every is self-funded by Ben McKean and is managed by two women, Sarah McKean (Ben’s cousin) and Maya Valliath, with app development outsourced to a third-party firm. While initially offered as a free app and side project, McKean remains open to the possibility of scaling it into a more substantial business with potential investor support. The app was in beta testing since March and is now publicly available on the App Store, offered as a free download with no in-app purchases.
