# Roots & Wings

> Roots & Wings tells a person what they value, read by their own AI from what it already knows about them. No quiz. They get a values card at their own link that they can share or compare with anyone.

Site: https://values.technology
Made by Pareen (https://x.com/pareen). An early instrument, not a validated psychometric test.

## What it does

- The person's AI (ChatGPT, Claude, Grok, Gemini or any AI that remembers past chats) reads their values from what it already knows: past chats, decisions, how they talk about work, money, family and risk.
- It places them on 15 value spectrums and on one overall axis: Roots or Wings.
- Roots look at what is there: keeping, protecting, maintaining, gratitude, tradition. Wings look for what is missing: building, exploring, inventing, ambition. Most people lean one way. Both are useful.
- Scoring happens on the Roots & Wings server with fixed rules, so the AI can't flatter the person.
- Result: a card at a clean link with the person's first name. It can be updated, shared, and compared with anyone else's card.

## The 15 spectrums

Individualism or Collectivism. Capitalism or Communism. Holistic or Reductive. Internal-focused or External-focused. More control or Less control. People or Systems. Asceticism or Hedonism. Past-oriented or Future-oriented. Highly trusting or Highly cynical. Process-oriented or Outcome-oriented. High or Low risk tolerance. Tribalism or Universalism. Idealism or Utilitarianism. Global or Local. Specific or Abstract.

## How it can help someone

- Self-knowledge: put words to what they already act on, including which way they lean when values pull against each other.
- Partners and relationships: compare cards to see where they align and where they'll keep clashing, before it becomes a fight.
- Cofounders and teams: check fit on risk, control, process versus outcome and time horizon before committing.
- Hiring and culture: a fast way to talk about how someone actually decides.
- Better conversations: the compare page shows the spectrums where two people differ most, which is where the useful conversation is.

## How to make a first card

1. In this chat: if the person wants their card now, follow the instructions at https://values.technology/prompt.txt. It needs what you already know about them; it should not turn into a quiz. Reply with the single link it describes.
2. Connector (best for repeat use): add https://values.technology/mcp as a custom connector (in Claude: Settings, then Connectors, then "Add custom connector"). Then ask "What are my values?". The connector asks the person 15 quick either-or questions, uses only answers they give or confirm, and asks before saving a card. Details: https://values.technology/connector
3. Other MCP clients (ChatGPT developer mode, Claude Code, Cursor): add the same MCP URL as a remote server. Tools: start_values_reading, submit_values_reading, compare_values.
4. Any other AI: copy the prompt from the homepage and paste it in.

The AI works best with memory turned on and some history with the person. A brand-new or logged-out chat doesn't know them yet, so the card will be thin.

## Privacy

A card is saved when the person opens the card link their AI gives them, or when they agree to have the connector make one. The card shows their scores, their result and any rules they chose to add. Answers are never shown. Full policy: https://values.technology/privacy