These days, most big tech companies and startups are making AI tools that are useful for the adult population and have guardrails in place to protect kids. So the question is, is there any company that’s doing something about kids’ safer access to AI, in a way that isn’t just limited to text or voice?
Sparkli believes in AI that’s safer and interactive for kids
Well, it seems one company is actually doing something about bringing generative AI into kids’ products—but not in the way you might be thinking. Here, I’m talking about a new AI startup called Sparkli, which is trying to change that narrative by turning AI-powered learning into something kids can actually interact with.
As reported by TechCrunch, the new startup was founded by a trio of former Google employees, namely Lax Poojary, Lucie Marchand, and Myn Kang. Sparkli is reportedly built around a simple idea: kids don’t just want answers. They want experiences, and that’s exactly what Sparkli is trying to bring in for kids. It looks to turn curiosity into interaction.
Poojary and Kang are parents themselves. They have admitted that keeping up with their children’s endless questions has been difficult. Explaining things like how cars work or why it rains using ChatGPT or Gemini often resulted in long blocks of text, which doesn’t really work when you’re trying to explain concepts to kids. That’s where Sparkli comes in. It wants to remove that roadblock.
Text explanations are boring, which is why Sparkli makes learning interactive for kids
Instead of static explanations, the app offers interactive “expeditions” that let kids explore topics visually and actively. Think of it as an experience where you read less and do more. According to the founders, if a child wants to know what Mars looks like, Sparkli doesn’t just show an image or play a video. It lets them experience the idea through guided interaction—something I would have personally loved as a kid.
Sparkli allows kids to explore predefined topics across multiple categories or create their own learning paths by asking questions. Each topic is broken into chapters that blend audio, images, videos, quizzes, and games. Kids can also listen to generated voice narration or read along. There’s a daily highlighted topic as well, encouraging children to discover something new every day. These choose-as-you-go adventures don’t focus on right or wrong answers.
All of this content is generated on the fly using generative AI, which Sparkli says can create a complete learning experience within two minutes, with plans to make it even faster. Unlike many other AI tools, Sparkli positions itself as an education-driven assistant.
Challenging traditional education system
Sparkli also focuses on areas where traditional education systems often lag behind. That includes financial literacy, entrepreneurship, design skills, and emotional intelligence, alongside more familiar learning topics.
Amid growing concerns around kids and AI, Sparkli has placed strong guardrails in place. Sexual content is completely banned. When children ask about sensitive topics like self-harm, the app responds by teaching emotional intelligence and encouraging conversations with parents. The company says its goal is to support curiosity while keeping safety front and center.
Sparkli has already been tested in more than 20 schools and is currently working with an institute connected to over 100,000 students. Inspired by Duolingo, the app also includes streaks, rewards, and quest cards to keep kids coming back. If Sparkli does what it tells will do, we might be in for a glimpse of what AI learning for kids should actually look like.
