When we think about the capabilities of AI and chatbots, we sometimes overlook what they can do for and with the little ones. However, Qu, the founder of Heeyo, seeks to explore this still underdeveloped sector. Her startup offers children between the ages of three and eleven an artificial intelligence chatbot with more than 2,000 interactive games and activities, including books, trivia, and role-playing adventures. Heeyo also allows parents and children to design their own AI and create new educational games tailored to family values and children’s interests, an alternative to games like Minecraft and Roblox and endless YouTube videos. Heeyo came out on Thursday with an initial funding round of $3.5 million from the OpenAI Startup Fund, Alexa Fund, Pear VC, and other investors. Its app is now available on Android and iOS tablets and smartphones worldwide.
Data Protection
It’s natural to wonder if an AI for children might be unsettling or even dangerous. What precautions is Heeyo taking to ensure children’s safety? How does it protect children’s data? How does talking to an AI chatbot affect a child’s mental health?
Qu states that safety is at the core of Heeyo’s product, from data management to how its chatbot interacts with children on sensitive issues and parental controls. Although the technology is still new, it seems that Heeyo is taking the appropriate measures to make its app a healthy learning experience for children and families. The chatbot, which children can play with alone or with family members, is very supportive on emotional issues and always suggests fun and interactive learning games.
An Expanding Market
Addressing the children's market safely and attractively also allows Heeyo to carve out a niche that other companies might avoid. "There are a billion children in our demographic right now, and as you can imagine, none of the big tech providers are really supporting this age group, whether it’s because they think it’s too troublesome, because they would have to comply with COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act), or because they think there may be less money in it," Qu said. "But they’re not supporting those kids at all. So it’s a huge market."
Qu noted that Heeyo complies with COPPA, so it immediately deletes children's voice data and doesn’t store any of their demographics. Heeyo also doesn’t ask for the child’s full name when signing them up or request personal information.
Monetization of Heeyo
Although some of the games and experiences are free initially, Heeyo will make money by selling tokens for the games. The current price is $4.99 for 200 tokens, $9.99 for 500, and $59.99 for 4,000. Each game costs around 10 tokens at the time of writing this article. In the future, Heeyo might seek monetization opportunities for creators through a developer ecosystem. The idea is that someone could use their expertise, such as anger management in children, to provide content, and Heeyo will use its AI engine to turn that into an experience.
