How Red Works

Inside the Red Journal

A guided tour of the conversation, memory system, and journal that builds itself.

The Conversation

Red doesn't ask generic questions. It listens to what you've said before and asks something real — something that opens a door rather than ticking a box.

Red

You mentioned feeling flat yesterday. What's one thing that actually caught your attention today — even briefly?
There was a moment in the morning when the light came through the kitchen window in a really particular way. I stopped for a second.

Red

That pause — what was in it? Was it something you wanted to hold onto, or something you were just noticing?
Both, I think. Like I was glad to be awake enough to see it. Which I guess means I haven't been.

The Memory System

Red remembers what matters — not everything, but the right things. Three layers of memory work together to keep your conversations meaningful.

Foundational Memory

The bedrock of who you are. Your values, long-term patterns, significant relationships, and recurring themes. Built slowly, updated rarely.

Contextual Memory

The current chapter. What you've been going through recently — projects, transitions, emotional arcs over the past few months.

Active Memory

Today's conversation. What you're feeling right now, this week, in this moment. Fresh and present.

Your Journal Builds Itself

No writing required. After each conversation, Red quietly creates a journal entry that captures what you shared — in a way that's actually useful later.

  • Key themes and recurring patterns from your conversation
  • Emotional tone and shifts across the session
  • Insights and realisations you reached
  • Questions worth returning to
  • Connections to previous entries and longer arcs

Built on privacy

Your journal is one of the most intimate things you own. All conversations are encrypted in transit and at rest. Your data is never sold and never used to train AI models. Red is powered by Anthropic's Claude AI — you can read exactly how that works and what it means for your data in our Privacy Policy.

Read our full Privacy Policy

Red is not therapy

Red is a journaling tool, not a mental health service. If you are in crisis or need professional support, please reach out to one of the following:

  • Samaritans — Call 116 123 (free, 24/7, UK & Ireland)
  • Crisis Text Line — Text HOME to 741741 (US, UK, Canada, Ireland)
  • Your GP or doctor — Your first port of call for ongoing mental health support

Ready to start your first conversation?

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