From the Tech Dark Ages to an AI Renaissance

This is the story of our journey with Endora as inspired by the 2007 Disney movie, "Meet the Robinsons"…

*Kitty & Coco circa 2007 meeting Lewis and Wilbur at Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney World.*

Welcome to an exhilarating adventure where the world of "Meet the Robinsons" parallels our own journey in bringing Endora to life.

In this post, we'll explore the connections between the movie's futuristic narrative and our own quest.

To say this movie has been an inspiration to us would be an understatement. If we’ve seen it once, we’ve seen it a thousand times!

Parallels in the Technological Dark Ages:
In both worlds, we find ourselves living in the technological dark ages, where DORIS (the “helping” hat) symbolizes the addictive allure of smartphones, Big Tech, and social media. The world is ablaze as our addiction to screens, meticulously engineered to maximize our time on them, has taken a toll on mental health and society in general.

“DORIS! I thought she was my friend…”

We've all been there, thinking social media would help connect us and create a more social environment. But as Silicon Valley says, "if you aren't paying for the product, you are the product." Big Tech's business models thrive on maximizing screen time, often disregarding the negative impact on mental well-being. Study after study shows a dramatic increase in depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, FOMO…. not to mention suicides, eating disorders, and human trafficking.

Attention Zark Muckerberg: It's time for reflection and accountability!

Lewis's Technology and the Turnaround:
Echoing Lewis's invention (the memory scanner), Endora represents a pivotal shift. It transforms our interaction with technology from mindless scrolling to mindful reflection, encouraging users to find joy and perspective in their memories rather than succumbing to social media's comparative traps.

As Lewis finally gets to test his memory scanner at the science fair, you can hear the power of reflection in Professor Krunklehorn’s voice as she exclaims with wonder, joy, and love, “Ah-hah! It works!” This is the same reaction we hear in the voices of our Endora testers.

By achieving a balance with tech and prioritizing user well-being, we can pave the way for a brighter future.

Additionally, we have to shut down DORIS. Wait on government regulations or corporations to take responsibility? No. Simply, the users and advertisers need to walk away. If we don’t give DORIS our time, attention, or money, it can’t, and won’t, survive.

“I am never going to invent you.” Or, in the real world, “I am never going to use you.”

The Tech Dark Ages and Our Renaissance:
Could it be that the dark ages were a necessary evil? The stage is set for an AI Renaissance. With optimism and reflection inspiring us, we can steer the ship toward a better tomorrow. Let's embrace technology that prioritizes the user and harness its potential for positive change. With AI and empowered, educated users, this change can occur overnight.

“The Future Has Arrived”

Entrepreneurial Takeaways:
"Meet the Robinsons" offers entertaining and valuable insights for anyone’s entrepreneurial journey:

Keep moving forward: Embrace the Robinson family's mantra and never lose sight of progress.
Celebrate failures: Failures are stepping stones to success. Embrace them, learn from them, and keep pushing forward.
Angel investors and quirky support: Just as Lewis found his angels, we too encounter those who believe in our vision. Embrace their magic and let it fuel your journey.
Underestimated founders: Investors should look beyond traditional credentials and assess founders based on leadership, core values, passion, and a desire to create positive impact.
The science fair and tech accelerators: The science fair in the movie aligns with the excitement of tech accelerator demo days, showcasing innovation and creativity.
Transformational journeys: Lewis's shift from the memory scanner to a greater purpose mirrors our own transformation from Mortie to Endora, revealing the evolution of our product vision.

Fun Facts and Memorable Quotes:

The author of the book that inspired the movie (A Day with Wilbur Robinson by Bill Joyce) hails from Shreveport, LA - located less than an hour away from us!
"Does inventing count as a sport?" - This line perfectly captures the entrepreneurial superpower within us!
"And what makes you qualified to judge a science fair?” ... “My gym" - A reminder not to take advice from unqualified sources. Trust your own judgment!
"DON'T let it go" - Beware of Goob and his selfish motivations. Stay focused on what truly matters! Also, this was pre-Frozen and Elsa’s famous line, “Let it go!” Is this a new little Easter egg for you??
"I am never going to invent you..." - Exercising tech restraint is essential for responsible innovation, especially as we approach the AI frontier.
"My first real invention. The one that started it all." - The memory scanner is essentially what we are building with Endora. A place for people to reflect more and compare less. Humans’ ability to reflect and look back is how and why we are able to project to the future and innovate - within our own lives and within society. It fills people with gratitude, optimism, perspective, and more. We believe helping people reflect can kickstart a renaissance of creativity and progress!

Now, if you haven’t already seen the movie, grab your kids and please go watch! Hopefully, I haven’t revealed too much about the story…there is plenty I left out!

It’s funny, it’s sweet, it’s eye-opening, it’s heart-warming…

And if the ending fails to bring a tear to your eye, you might just be a robot!

Let this ahead-of-its-time movie inspire you!

To the FUTURE!
Coco