Key 7 Investment completes acquisition of StoryFile
Key 7 Investment Company has acquired StoryFile, known for its AI-powered conversational video platform, concluding its Chapter 11 process and indicating new plans for growth and development.
StoryFile's technology, which allows users to engage in authentic video conversations, has been featured in various high-profile media outlets and projects. With its installation titled "Voices from the Front" at the Smithsonian-affiliated National World War II Museum in New Orleans, visitors have experienced immersive historical interactions. Stephen Watson, President of the National World War II Museum, remarked that the installation "offers a new way to carry on the first-person accounts of the men and women who served their country - both at home and abroad - and ensures that their place in history is never forgotten."
The acquisition by Key 7 Investment signals a change in leadership for StoryFile and promises the introduction of new products and a refreshed brand identity across various sectors, including consumer, corporate, non-profit and institutional applications.
Steven Splawn, CEO and owner of Key 7 Investment, stated, "We are incredibly excited about the future of StoryFile. Its foundation is unparalleled because it evolved from the need to create technology you can trust. We see extraordinary potential in evolving it to new heights. The next generation of StoryFile will not only push the boundaries of AI-driven interactions but also create unprecedented ways for people, businesses and institutions to connect and learn."
Recent implementations of StoryFile include its introduction at the Museum of the Bible in Washington DC and the upcoming Medal of Honor Museum in Dallas, Texas. A project involving New York City public schools will see StoryFile's technology enabling conversations with Holocaust survivor Big Sonia, facilitated by production company Inflatable Films and Blue Card, an organisation aiding Holocaust survivors and their families.
Previous collaborations have seen StoryFile in various notable projects including installations at the Japanese American National Museum and through partnerships with Time Magazine and Meta. It also featured in the Route 66 Museum in Kingman, Arizona, and celebrated personalities like Ambassador Andrew Young and TV legend Ed Asner.
Among prominent users of StoryFile is William Shatner, who shared, "Making my StoryFile I've done the best I can to be me. And to answer the questions, not only as truthfully, but as extravagantly as possible! I talked about flying. I talked about acting. I talked about dying. I talked about the family. I talked and talked about all the subjects I could think of. I just let it flow and try to give an idea of who I was and what I was and the arc of everything."
Author Nikki Giovanni's experience with StoryFile was also praised by LitHub editor Jonny Diamond who noted, "I actually found the whole experience rather lovely; in fact, I still have the window open with AI Nikki Giovanni perched atop that stool, waiting for another question. It's kind of reassuring."
In a corporate setting, Walmart has utilised StoryFile to create a hologram of its founder Sam Walton, which is part of the Walmart Museum exhibits in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Alan Dranow, Walmart Heritage Group senior director, said, "Partnering with StoryFile on creating the Sam Walton hologram has brought a new dimension to the Walmart Museum's array of exhibits. It speaks directly to how we think about our company: people-led and tech-empowered. Conversational video is a cutting-edge technology that enables visitors to the Walmart Museum to get a feeling of what it would be like to ask Sam Walton 'directly' questions about Walmart's heritage. It's educational, inspirational and very engaging."
StoryFile continues to focus on its mission to facilitate meaningful conversations through its technology, indicating that its relaunch will provide new opportunities for individuals and organisations to utilise its platform for authentic interactions.
