Why I am building an AI learning companion for kids

For a long time, I've been exploring concepts like "first principles thinking" – this idea of digging down to the absolute truths of a matter. What I’ve realized is that, at its heart, it’s all about questioning, exploration, and a willingness to experiment until you hit bedrock. It’s a way of thinking that I admire deeply, partly because I feel my own curiosity and exploration skills weren't fully nurtured growing up. My parents, like many, didn't always have the patience or time for endless questions. Later, the educational system often encouraged acceptance of information rather than deep questioning. So, while that natural drive for exploration was always there inside me, it felt a bit stunted, not truly developed or expressed. I’m actually really excited for when my own son, who’s 2 years old now, starts hitting me with his own barrage of questions – I hope to be better prepared!

If you've been around young children, or perhaps even remember your own childhood vividly, you'll know what I mean by that raw, unfiltered drive. That insatiable curiosity, the constant stream of questions – "Why is the sky blue?" "How do birds fly?" "Where do babies come from?" Sometimes it feels like they ask hundreds a day, each one a tiny expedition into understanding the world around them.

I've been fascinated by this for a long time. This isn't just random noise; it's the sound of a mind actively working, trying to piece together the gigantic puzzle of existence. And as parents, caregivers, or just observers, we try our best. We answer what we can, when we can. But let's be honest, sometimes we're tired, sometimes we don't know the answer offhand, and sometimes the sheer volume can be a little overwhelming. It’s not a failing on our part; it’s just the reality of adult life versus a child’s boundless energy for discovery.

We’ve all heard, or maybe even used, the classic "Because I said so." It’s an understandable response in a moment of fatigue or frustration. But when "accept it and move on" becomes the default, it can inadvertently halt the development of a child's critical thinking and exploration skills. It teaches them that some doors of inquiry are best left unopened, that their own drive to understand isn't always valued.

This relentless questioning, however, isn't just a phase to endure; it's a foundational period. This is when kids are literally building their understanding of everything. They’re learning not just facts, but how to think, how to explore, how to connect dots. It’s the bedrock of critical thinking.

This is where the idea for Dreico really took root for me. What if there was a way to support this natural curiosity, especially when adult patience and time are limited?

Dreico isn't about giving the quickest answer to "Why do I have to brush my teeth?" It’s about guiding a child to explore that question. Maybe it talks about tiny sugar bugs (germs!), or how strong teeth help us eat yummy apples. It’s about sparking more questions, not shutting them down. It’s designed to be a tool that encourages children to follow their curiosity down interesting paths, to dig deeper into topics they're naturally drawn to, rather than just grabbing the first piece of information they find.

Imagine a child, side-by-side with a smart companion, exploring their endless questions. They’re not just passively receiving answers; they're engaging in a dialogue, prompted to think about where information comes from, to not just accept but to probe. That’s the kind of interaction I envision with Dreico. By fostering this relationship early, we're not just giving them a fun companion; we're helping them to develop their curiosity and support their natural growth. We're preparing them not to just accept everything as they are told, but to question, explore, and truly learn.

Dreico is being built to nurture that natural, beautiful curiosity that every child is born with, rather than letting it inadvertently fade. It's about providing a patient friend that never gets tired of the "whys," and in doing so, helping children develop those crucial critical thinking skills that will serve them for a lifetime.

This blog is where I’ll be sharing more about this journey – the thinking behind Dreico, the challenges, the progress, and more. And soon, I'll delve into how I see AI specifically fitting into this picture of education for our little ones. I hope you’ll follow along.