By Filippo Yacob: Alexis Bardini, Emre Kayganaci, Sally Davies.

Our experimental journey at the intersection of AI and Kid-tech has been an adventure. From chairs that can feel, to helpful AI guides for internet discovery, to real world pokedexes, we can confidently say we’ve done more than most. But in a landscape that changes at a neck-breaking pace, we’ve realized that experience counts for little. What was relevant yesterday may not be relevant tomorrow.



AI is increasingly weaving into the fabric of digital childhoods, shaping their reality, changing how they learn, play, think, behave, and interact with the outside world every day. This shift opens up opportunities to design AI that's easy and fun to use – and more importantly, that’s considerate of who children really are and what they need.



We’re a design studio that places kids at the heart of our practice – both as our users, but also as sources of inspiration. There’s a deep connection between adult creativity and the special cognitive abilities of children, whose brains are uniquely plastic and free of many of the limiting, top-down filters that we struggle with as grown-ups. It’s precisely those filters that we try to get rid of as designers.



FINH’s goal is to make sure that, as AI spills into the lives of our little ones, we use this technology to bring out the best in every child, and to spark curiosity and joy with every interaction. More importantly, we feel we have a responsibility to make sure AI doesn’t become a tool for superficial consumption, but one that powers true creativity and discovery – helping children become resilient humans, capable problem solvers, truly global citizens, and secure in who they are and what they can achieve in life.



The team at yarn, our latest client and partner, have run with these insights to build a nourishing and imaginative storytelling platform that uses AI to empower kids to create their own stories. Both yarn and FINH place children at the heart of our practices – as our users, but also as sources of inspiration. There’s a deep connection between adult creativity and the special cognitive abilities of children, whose brains are uniquely plastic and free of many of the limiting, top-down filters that we struggle with as grown-ups. It’s precisely those filters that we try to get rid of as product-makers and designers.

AI FOR CHILDREN MUST BE TRANSPARENT AND HONEST.

AI Interfaces must demystify the inner workings and intent of the AI. Communicating clear boundaries between the technology and the child, fostering an environment of trust and confidence in its capabilities and limitations.

Our experimental journey at the intersection of AI and Kid-tech has been an adventure. From chairs that can feel, to helpful AI guides for internet discovery, to real world pokedexes, we can confidently say we’ve done more than most. But in a landscape that changes at a neck-breaking pace, we’ve realized that experience counts for little. What was relevant yesterday may not be relevant tomorrow.



AI is increasingly weaving into the fabric of digital childhoods, shaping their reality, changing how they learn, play, think, behave, and interact with the outside world every day. This shift opens up opportunities to design AI that's easy and fun to use – and more importantly, that’s considerate of who children really are and what they need.