An Essex mum-of-four has created a new AI app called Elf Watch that allows families to see their Elf on the Shelf getting up to mischief in real time, taking the pressure off parents who struggle to stage scenes every night.
Kirsten Boisvert, from Essex, came up with the idea two years ago after her son Leo asked if they could catch the elf on camera. Rather than dismiss the idea, she and her best friend developed the app after months of trial and error.
The app, which launched on 1 December, already has over 320,000 families on the waiting list. Fans include singer Meghan Trainor, EastEnders star Jacqueline Jossa, and Coronation Street's Cath Tydesley.
Elf Watch shows elves sneaking through kitchens, raiding biscuit tins, getting tangled in tinsel, and swinging from lampshades. A single piece of footage costs 69p, while a full month's subscription is under £20.
Boisvert said: 'Elf Watch was born from wanting to give our kids that “wow” moment - the kind of magic you can’t fake. We didn’t build an app, we built a memory-maker.' She added that the app helps parents create magic without the pressure.
