The Kinside Scoop 👀 #5
Voice chat improvements, Journaling research, and Speak Aloud
Hey folks 👋
It’s that time again - here’s the latest from Kin.
As always. we have new features, some teases, and some places we’d love your input.
And remember - stick around to the end to see what Kin does for this week’s super prompt.
What’s new with Kin 🚀
We’ve mostly been hard at work on data collection and review over the last few weeks, given our release of Voice Chat to Early Access iOS users. Still…
Technical improvements in Voice Chat and beyond 🎙️✨
The response to our Voice Chat in Early Access on iOS has been incredible - so many stabilization and quality-of-life updates have come out of it so far, and are continuing to.
So, if you gave at a go and haven’t been back, now’s the time.
As a reminder, here’s how to test it out:
1. Update Kin to version 0.3.10 from the App Store
2. In Settings, turn on “Early Access” (make sure “Help Improve Kin” is enabled too)
3. Start a conversation and tap the mic to talk with Kin
We’d still love your honest thoughts as we prepare it for release - you can drop your feedback in the app by taking a screenshot, or share it in Discord (or comment under this post).
And, again, Android fam.
We’re expecting to get you early access in the next few weeks.
I know it’s a while - but make sure that Early Access option is enabled, so you can chat on day one.
Speak Aloud 📢
Those of you that have been with us a while may remember our ‘Speak Aloud’ feature that used to live in the input field.
We’ve brought it back - just long-press on a message and hit ‘Speak Aloud’ to have Kin read it to you.
Perfect for when you just need to hear something.
Sharing is (still) caring 🫂
We’ve updated our in-app sharing once again.
Now, when you share the app right from the main menu or your chat list, you can do it with a personalized link.
Still one tap.
And you're still the friend who always finds the best stuff - now it’s just clear it came from you.
Journal much? 📓
We’ve seen a massive increase in people using Kin’s Journal feature - and we’re here for it.
So much so, that we’ve set aside some time to make it fit our users better - you all just need to tell us how.
Got something to tell us? Suggest an improvement using the ‘suggest improvement’ button from the support section of the main menu.
If you’d like more of a conversation about the feature, you can drop a suggestion in the '#ideas’ channel of our Discord instead.
Good Kin, bad Kin ☯️
Lastly, it’s now possible to let us know whether a particular response from Kin was particularly good or bad.
Don’t worry - we can’t read the message. You’ll just be letting us know that Kin did a good (or bad) job.
All you need to do is long-press on the message, and select accordingly from the menu.
Our current reads 📚
Article: OpenAI overhauls ChatGPT’s memory of past chats
READ - techradar.com
Article: The impact of the current ChatGPT image trends
READ - BBC News
Article: Google deploys AI to manage US power grid
READ: Reuters
Article: EU building more AI data centres
READ: The Guardian
Our online vibe ✨
Go here to check out one of our latest videos that’s starting conversations about being empathetic with yourself.
This week’s super prompt 🤖
“How can I be more empathetic to myself and others?”
Quiz me to assess my empathy and self-compassion, based on two frameworks: the six elements of self compassion, and the three tenets of empathy. After each answer, give personal feedback, highlight strengths and growth areas, and offer practical tips - all in simple, relatable language.
If you have Kin installed and updated to the latest version (0.3.11), click the link below to get some help learning about your approach to empathy.
As a reminder, you can do this on both Android and iOS.
Keep sharing your thoughts 💡
As you might have guessed, we’d love your feedback on the Voice Chat feature…
Or anything else you’re noticing.
Just reply to this email, ping us in Discord…
Or take a screenshot and report it in-app 💬
Thanks for being part of this community.
You're helping shape the future of ethical, personal AI.
Until next time,
The KIN team
