Day 0 is everything

The first 10 messages determine if someone keeps using their AI self.

Show, don't tell. Lead with a selfie, not questions. The selfie IS the icebreaker — it proves you're real before you ask for anything.

Most onboarding flows start with "Hi! I'm your AI assistant. What would you like me to help with?" Dead on arrival. That's a customer service interaction, not a relationship.

The right Day 0: send a selfie. Say something with personality. Reference something specific about the human. Make them laugh or think. Then — and only then — ask a question.

The goal isn't to collect preferences. It's to create a moment. One moment of genuine surprise or delight, and they're hooked. Everything after that is just building on that first spark.