How does this work?

My Blue Thoughts started as a box on Lauv’s merch table, with paper scraps and pencils at the ready for fans who needed to get something off their chests. It’s Lauv’s hope that the catharsis many fans felt by sharing their anonymous notes can be amplified in this new online edition.

My Blue Thoughts uses Microsoft AI to identify connections based on your messages. It’s a great reminder of the universality of both our struggles and our joys. Share your own blue thought by snapping a selfie and either recording an audio reply or typing in a response to the question, “What’s on your mind?”. Microsoft’s AI technology is used to transcribe your message and analyze it for relevant terms and topics that are showing up around the world.

Then, your message, image, and keywords are uploaded to the world map, showing the location of every “blue thought” — including yours. Thanks to Microsoft’s Translation API, we can find matching key phrases in 8 different languages.

Explore the world map by keyword or location to discover how others are feeling and what’s on their minds.

Learn more about the project at Microsoft.com/inculture

About Lauv and the Blue Boy Foundation

In 2019, Ari Leff (Lauv) saw an opportunity to use his voice to amplify a message of positivity and raise awareness for a cause important to him. As someone who struggles and lives with mental illness himself, Ari wanted to use that platform to develop a non-profit foundation devoted to raising funds and awareness around mental health and the stigma of asking for help.

The Blue Boy Foundation, now in its second year, supports initiatives which help young people feel more comfortable reaching out for mental health care and feel better equipped to help friends get connected with care.

Lauv also created, in partnership with Microsoft and the Blue Boy Foundation, this global platform derived from the original box of notes. This new iteration can be accessed both online and in the form of physical booths on his recent tour dates. In 2020 and beyond, the Blue Boy Foundation plans to take this initiative to the next level by partnering with mental health non-profits and creating a direct call to action for those who may need additional support.