Can a Robot Really Be Your Study Buddy? (Elementary | Middle)
AI for Kids
Dreams of Scaling a Personal Tutor to Millions
Amber asks about user growth and Ivan shares the vision and international reach of Buddy AI.
Imagine an AI tutor that changes color to teach colors, points to an arm to name body parts, and keeps lessons fun without losing focus. That’s Buddy AI, a 3D animated study buddy for kids that turns screen time into meaningful learning.
In this episode of AI for Kids, host Amber Ivey talks with Ivan Crewkov, the founder of Buddy AI, to explore how a personal challenge of helping his daughter learn English grew into a global learning platform used by over 60 million children.
You’ll learn how Buddy AI was built from the ground up with AI safety, child privacy, and strong educational design. Ivan shares how Buddy learned from 25,000 hours of kids’ voices and accents, creating an AI that truly understands how children speak. Unlike general chatbots, Buddy runs on a purpose-built model stack focused on educational outcomes, guided by a structured curriculum and gamified experiences that make learning playful yet productive.
We also talk about Buddy’s COPPA-certified privacy standards, including minimal data collection, deletion on request, and a privacy-by-design architecture that keeps conversations secure. Plus, a sneak peek at what’s next: a Tamagotchi-style home, customizable virtual pets, and new lessons designed with top mobile game creators.
Parents, teachers, and caregivers will walk away with practical tips on choosing safe AI apps for kids, understanding why embodiment matters in AI education, and how to treat AI as a tool, not a toy.
Listen now to hear how Buddy AI blends AI, education, and empathy to boost kids’ confidence, language skills, and curiosity.
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