Questions
Short, plain answers.
How does it work?
You give the gift and tell us who it is for. We text them to ask if they would like to begin. If they say yes, the phone rings once a week on the day and time they like, with one question about their life. They answer out loud. We turn each answer into a written story and put it, with the recording, on your private page.
Do they have to use an app or type anything?
No. It is just a phone call. They talk, and press the pound key or simply stop talking when they are done.
Do they have to say yes?
Yes. Before any call, we send one text and wait for them to reply YES. If they reply STOP, or press 9 on any call, we never contact them again.
What if they do not pick up?
We try again, up to three times, an hour apart, and never leave a voicemail. If a week is missed, that week does not count against your package, and the same question comes back next time.
Is it really in their own words?
Yes. We record the answer, turn it into text, and have AI tidy it: it removes the ums and false starts and adds paragraph breaks. It is told never to add a fact, a name or a feeling they did not say. You can read the original recording any time, and fix a name or a word on your page.
What kind of questions are asked?
Gentle ones about their life: childhood, family, work, love, laughter, hard years and what they learned. Happy ones come first. You can add your own questions, and yours are asked first.
Who can see the stories?
Only people who have your private link. There is no password, so keep the link private, and share it with family as you choose. We do not publish anything, and we never use stories or recordings to train AI or to imitate a voice.
Can I get a printed book?
You can print the whole book from your page, and it is laid out for that. Ready-made printed and bound books are something we would like to add later.
What if they stop partway?
They can stop any time. Everything recorded so far stays on your page. We do not refund the part of a package that has already been used.
What if they say no thank you?
If they decline before the first call, we refund the gift in full. Write to hello@thegoldenversion.com.
What about people who have trouble hearing or speaking?
Calls are slow and clear. If a phone call is not right for someone, this gift may not be the best fit. Please write to us and we will tell you honestly.
Who runs this?
SHORE AI LLC in Malibu, California. Write to hello@thegoldenversion.com.