3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Elon Musk to make 'BabyGrok' kid-friendly AI chatbot, but is AI-powered learning safe for kids?
After introducing a new feature, 'Ani,' the gothic anime girl AI (artificial intelligence) chatbot Grok on X (formerly called Twitter) on Monday, July 14, tech billionaire Elon Musk is working on a kid-friendly version of its Grok chatbot, he said in a post on X.
On Sunday, Musk took to his X and announced that they are going to make BabyGroke@xAI, an app dedicated to kid-friendly content. According to ET, this is going to be the new version, which is expected to launch as a separate application tailored for young users; however, further details are still awaited.
On the other hand, Musk also hinted at a new capability that would enable Grok to create viral videos by expanding its other creative tools.
Working on a new way to make creative viral videos fast called …✨ Imagine ✨
Grok's 4 anime companions raised concerns as it has an NSFW mode
Meanwhile, the current new AI feature is exclusively available to the iOS app, and there are three companions available: a 2D goth anime girl with blonde pigtails named Ani and a 3D cartoon fox named Bad Rudy. This feature is likely powered by Grok 4 and a new one that is inspired by 50 Shades of Grey and the Twilight Saga.
Amid the launch of 'Ani,' the girl anime companion that may include a not safe for work (NSFW) mode, allowing users to undress the characters and reveal them in lingerie. This led to major trolling and became a part of the online backlash.
Following this, the question of whether there should be kid-friendly AI applications for children aged 5-15 in India is both timely and complex.
Comparative performance of Grok AI
The Artificial Intelligence Index, a benchmark suite that evaluates models across a variety of capacities, recently saw Grok 4 at the top:
Multitask language comprehension (MMLU-Pro) and graduate-level problem solving (GPQA Diamond)
The Final Examination of Humanity: Existential and General Thinking
LiveCodeBench: Programming in real time
SciCode: Modelling and computation for science
Olympiad-level mathematical reasoning (AIME)
Math-500: Complex problem-solving in mathematics.
Educational benefits and potential
According to research from India, which shows promising results, "A large-scale AI technology intervention across 5,000 government schools showed 20-40 per cent overall gains in learning outcomes, with teachers also reporting improved skills," reports ET.
The study involved 1 million children and 15,000 teachers, indicating the substantial positive impact AI can have on educational achievement. A look at the positive impacts in the Indian context:
Intelligent tutoring systems can help mitigate the teacher shortage in India by delivering virtual instruction and mentorship through interactive support and personalised feedback.
While 65 per cent of Indians have used generative AI—over twice the global average of 31 per cent—notable disparities still persist.
Educational tools powered by AI, such as Appu, developed by Rocket Learning with support from highlight how homegrown innovations can tackle challenges unique to India.
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Concerning the negative impact and risks
The implementation of kid-friendly AI apps raises safety concerns that are particularly relevant in the Indian context.
Screen time: In India, the average screen time of children under 5 is about 2.2 hours daily, double the expert-recommended limit.
Excessive screen time is linked to:
Delayed language development
Reduced cognitive skills
Poor social behaviour
Increased obesity risk
Sleep disturbances
Cultural and social risks: AI cannot teach values, ethics, and emotional intelligence or offer a human experience that is essential for moral development.
Content moderation: Content moderation often fails to account for India's linguistic diversity and sociocultural nuances.
Age-appropriate design: Different interfaces and content for various age groups within the 5-15 range.
Human oversight: AI interactions should complement, not replace, human guidance.
Also Read: Elon Musk's Grok AI anime avatar 'Ani' goes viral for NSFW mode; sparks debate over flirtatious and adult responses
