In a time and place where technology seems to be driving us further apart, Robyn becomes the solution. Our new app, Perfectly Imperfect, guides users to restore their emotional vitality and cultivate greater self-compassion. A talented group of researchers, designers, and engineers including former physician Jenny Shao created Robyn. This emotionally intelligent AI companion guides users through reflecting on their feelings and empowers them to build deeper connections with themselves and those around them.
Robyn is currently only available on iOS and is subscription based, with a cost of $19.99 per month or $199 per year. The app recently completed a beta testing period with a wider group of users. They wrote overwhelmingly positive reviews, highlighting its capacity to facilitate emotional development and self-discovery.
Participants start by providing some basic demographic information about themselves, as well as their goals and their desired responses to various challenges. Smartly, Robyn customizes its responses according to the preferred tone of conversation expressed by each individual user. By providing customized learning paths to each user, this personalized approach acts as a core element of Robyn’s design.
Once onboarded, users will be able to participate in weekly insights that summarize the most important things learned from their discussions with Robyn. These findings assist users in getting a better picture of their emotional trends. They uncover hidden underlying characteristics such as their “emotional fingerprint,” attachment style, love language, and growth edge. The app includes a memory feature that remembers previous discussions, making the experience even more personalized.
Robyn’s primary mission is to combat the increase in emotional disconnection that plagues today’s society. In an interview Lars Rasmussen, one of the app’s original developers, described the app’s intent perfectly when he said,
“We’re living through a massive disconnection problem. People are surrounded by technology but feel less understood than ever. Robyn tackles that head-on. It’s solving emotional disconnection, helping people reflect, recognize their own patterns, and reconnect with who they are. It’s not about therapy or replacing relationships. It’s about strengthening someone’s capacity to connect — with themselves first, and then with others.”
Robyn presents unique and often immeasurable benefits, namely the opportunity for personal growth and self-reflection. Keep in mind that it isn’t intended as a substitute for therapeutic or clinical in-person treatment. Shao emphasized this point, saying,
“As a physician, I have seen things go badly when tech companies try to replace your doctor. Robyn is and won’t ever be a clinical replacement. It is equivalent to someone who knows you very well. Usually, their role is to support you. You can think of Robyn as your emotionally intelligent partner.”
Safety has always been a priority for the developers behind Robyn. To make sure people have safe interactions in the app, they’ve put guardrails in place. Latif Parecha echoed the need for these protections, saying,
“There needs to be guardrails in place for escalation for situations where people are in real danger. Especially, as AI will be part of our lives just like our family and friends are.”
Robyn has now raised $5.5 million in seed funding, led by M13. With this funding, they will be able to develop the app even further and get the word out. Robyn is always a work in progress. It’s designed to be that kind of supportive tool that encourages positive human relationships and values the emotional intelligence of the people using it.