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Ever wondered how to explain AI news to the curious young minds in your life? This episode of AI for Kids Scoop breaks down the latest artificial intelligence developments from early to mid-June in language kids and adults can understand together.

We dive into Apple's new "Apple Intelligence" features unveiled at their Worldwide Developer Conference. Picture asking your iPhone to translate a FaceTime call in real time or edit photos simply by describing what you want to change. We explore what this means for families who use these devices and how AI is quietly transforming everyday tech experiences.

The conversation turns to Mattel's groundbreaking partnership with OpenAI, which promises to bring AI-powered toys to market later this year. Yes, Barbie's getting a brain! While these interactive toys offer exciting possibilities for creative play and learning, we discuss the important privacy considerations parents should keep in mind as toys begin collecting and processing children's data.

We also unpack significant research from the Alan Turing Institute showing that 22% of children ages 8-12 have already engaged with AI chatbots, often without distinguishing between human and machine interactions. This highlights the critical need for AI literacy in schools and homes. Our screen-free activity encourages critical thinking about AI by having kids identify potential AI failures and develop human backup plans—a perfect way to build digital discernment without more screen time.

From European AI regulations to Microsoft's transparency reports and Meta's privacy defaults, we translate complex tech developments into actionable insights for families navigating the AI revolution. Join us for this enlightening discussion that keeps your curiosity switched on while keeping screen time in balance. Download, share with friends, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

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What if technology could help you understand and manage your emotions better? Dr. Alicia Mckoy, founder and CEO of PeakMind, takes us on a fascinating journey through the intersection of neuroscience, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence in the quest for better mental wellbeing.

The human brain processes emotions through chemicals like dopamine, oxytocin, and adrenaline, triggering our fight, flight, freeze, or relaxation responses. Understanding this complex system is crucial for managing our emotional states effectively.

With stress contributing to 60-80% of disease according to health organizations, Dr. Mckoy's work couldn't be more timely. She introduces us to concepts like ultradian rhythms—natural 90-minute cycles when our brains are optimally prepared for focus and learning—and explains how traditional school and work schedules often conflict with these natural patterns. Schools that have restructured around these rhythms have seen remarkable improvements in student performance.

Perhaps most exciting is Dr. Mckoy's pioneering work with virtual reality therapy. This "rehearsal therapy" allows people to practice stressful situations or experience calming environments while measuring biometric responses. The emergence of "VRX" (virtual reality prescriptions) represents a groundbreaking shift in healthcare, with doctors now prescribing VR experiences alongside or instead of traditional medications.

For those without access to advanced technology, Dr. Mckoy offers practical strategies anyone can implement: identifying your main stressors, noting where you feel stress physically, developing advance response plans, and prioritizing quality sleep.

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Resources

• Her books:
  • Be Well at Work
  • Creating a New Culture for your Workplace
• CDC – Coping with Stress
  Learn about healthy ways to manage stress for kids and adults.

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Today's episode explores the letter "U" in our ABCs of AI series, representing both yoU (our curious young listeners) and Unsupervised Learning. We break down how artificial intelligence systems can organize photos, music, and data by identifying similarities without being explicitly told what to look for. Through our "Sort It Like a Robot" activity, kids can experience firsthand how machines approach pattern recognition by sorting household objects and discussing the different ways things can be categorized.

But beyond the technical concepts, we emphasize something crucial: despite all the amazing capabilities of AI, human qualities remain irreplaceable. Your feelings, imagination, creativity, and kindness are superpowers that no algorithm can duplicate. We discuss why it's essential to have "humans in the loop" checking AI's work, especially when machines might miss context or make incorrect assumptions based on limited information.

Whether you're a tech-savvy kid or a parent looking to help your child navigate our increasingly AI-driven world, this episode offers accessible explanations and a fun hands-on activity that brings abstract concepts to life. Subscribe to AI for Kids, have your parents sign up for our newsletter at www.aidigitales.com/newsletter, and join us as we continue our journey through the ABCs of artificial intelligence!

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The digital landscape is constantly evolving, and our latest AI for Kids Scoop episode brings the most exciting tech developments straight to young curious minds. From robot dancing to drone flying, we're uncovering how schools across America are transforming tech education into hands-on adventures that prepare kids for tomorrow's world.

Dive into our exploration of Maine's student tech conference where nearly 1,000 kids programmed dancing robots and piloted drones, showcasing how learning and technology blend seamlessly in modern education. We also spotlight Google's latest kid-friendly AI tools, including updates to their Study Buddy app that now enables collaboration and note-sharing between students and teachers. For parents wondering about summer enrichment, we highlight the emergence of specialized AI summer camps that are teaching teens not just how to use AI, but how to use it responsibly and ethically.

The heart of this episode introduces our screen-free "Teach the Teacher" activity – a way for kids to understand how AI actually learns from data. By playing the role of AI trainers, children grasp the concept of training data and why diverse, representative examples matter when teaching machines. We also address important safety updates, including new legislation designed to protect children online, while emphasizing that the most powerful part of any AI system is the human guiding it.

Join us as we continue making artificial intelligence accessible, engaging, and safe for the next generation of innovators. Subscribe to our newsletter at AiDigiTales/newsletter for weekly updates and more screen-free activities to try at home!

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Ever wondered why AI can be simultaneously brilliant and bewilderingly clueless? Reed Coke, Director of Engineering at KUNGFU.AI, offers a beautifully simple explanation: AI is like singing along to songs in a language you don't know. You recognize patterns and can predict what comes next without truly understanding the meaning.

Reed brings his unique background as a linguist-turned-AI engineer to explain natural language processing in terms kids (and adults) can grasp. Growing up bilingual in Dutch and English sparked his passion for languages, eventually leading him to discover programming as a powerful tool for studying human communication. This intersection became his specialty - building AI systems that interact with language.

The conversation explores fascinating territory, from Reed's work on an AI system that could detect cancer risks five years before diagnosis to the amusing challenges of teaching computers to understand context (like distinguishing complaints about counterfeit products from reviews of Halloween "fake doctor" costumes). Reed breaks down complex concepts like supervised learning without sacrificing accuracy, making them accessible for young listeners.

Reed offers practical advice on getting started with AI through resources like Code Academy, Code Combat, kidspython.com, and Black Girls Hack, emphasizing that community-based learning through classes and camps often provides the best support. Most importantly, he encourages approaching AI development with empathy - considering who created the training data, what experiences it represents, and how systems will affect real people.

Ready to dive deeper into the world of AI? Subscribe to our podcast, have your parents leave us a review, and sign up for our weekly AI newsletter at aidigitales.com/newsletter.

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Tokens are the invisible building blocks that power every AI conversation, and in this episode of the AI for Kids podcast, we're breaking them down in a way that makes perfect sense for curious young minds!

As part of our "ABCs of AI" series, we've reached the letter T, and tokens take center stage. Ever wondered how AI actually processes our words? Unlike humans who understand complete thoughts, AI breaks everything down into smaller pieces called tokens—which can be whole words, parts of words, or even punctuation marks. When you say "I like robots!" to an AI, it sees four separate tokens, not a complete sentence.

We explore how these tokens help AI systems like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Llama piece together responses through pattern recognition rather than true comprehension. This explains why AI sometimes gets things wrong when tokens are tricky or questions are confusing! To make this concept tangible, we introduce the "Token Tower Challenge"—a fun game where kids can physically create and arrange tokens to build sentences, just like AI does. We also suggest experimenting with changing single words in AI prompts to see how dramatically the responses change.

Ready to dive deeper into the world of AI? Subscribe to our podcast, have your parents leave us a review, and sign up for our weekly AI newsletter at aidigitales.com/newsletter. Stay curious, and join us next time as we explore the letter U in our ongoing AI adventure!

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In this episode of AI for Kids, we explore how artificial intelligence is changing schools around the world—from new rules to exciting new tools!

We talk about how China just made new rules that stop students from turning in AI-written homework and require teacher help when younger kids use AI tools. Over in the UK, leaders are planning global guidelines for AI in education—and even a big AI in schools summit in 2026!

We also spotlight Jun Jang, a 16-year-old from Mississippi, who built a program to catch AI-written homework by learning students’ writing styles. So cool!

Plus, we check out a smart math app from France that can read your handwritten equations and help you learn step-by-step, and a new AI tool from Renaissance that helps teachers personalize lessons just for you.

At the end, we share a screen-free activity called “Be the AI” that helps you understand how AI follows instructions—and where it can go hilariously wrong!

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Help us become the #1 podcast for AI for Kids.

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What if your child had a kind, judgment-free learning companion—available anytime they needed help? That’s exactly what’s starting to happen in classrooms using AI. In this episode, we talk with Kanishka Seth, a teacher and EdTech leader at Khan Lab School, who works just one floor below the Khan Academy team and sees firsthand how AI is showing up in real learning spaces.

Kanishka shares how Khanmigo, Khan Academy’s AI-powered tool, acts like a thoughtful study buddy—asking questions instead of giving answers, offering feedback, and creating a safe space where kids can learn without fear of being wrong. As she puts it, “It’s like a peer who’s full of energy, always kind, and there to help them think through their ideas.”

If you're wondering how AI fits into your child’s education, this episode is for you. Kanishka’s perspective is both grounded and hopeful. She compares AI to a flashlight: it helps you see more clearly, but your child still needs to choose the direction.

You’ll also hear stories of real student projects. It’s not about shortcuts—it’s about opening up space for kids to explore, imagine, and grow.

Listen now—you’re not alone on this journey.

🔧 Tools & Platforms Mentioned

1. Khanmigo by Khan Academy – AI tutor and teaching assistant
   🔗 https://www.khanacademy.org/khan-lab-school/khanmigo
2. Khan Academy – The nonprofit learning platform
   🔗 https://www.khanacademy.org
3. ChatGPT – AI chatbot used for planning and Q&A
   🔗 https://chat.openai.com
4. DALL·E – AI image generation tool used for student creativity
   🔗 https://openai.com/dall-e
5. Google Lens – Translates signs/menus in real time
   🔗 https://lens.google
6. Google Translate – For live translation conversations
   🔗 https://translate.google.com

Support the show

Help us become the #1 podcast for AI for Kids.

Buy our new book "Let Kids Be Kids, Not Robots!: Embracing Childhood in an Age of AI"

Social Media & Contact:

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• Email: contact@aidigitales.com
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