Jul 27, 2023: What is Miko and how does it work? Discover how Miko engages in interactive learning, personalized conversations, and curated content while providing a safe and controlled environment. Keep reading to learn more!
Miko is an AI-powered robot developed by an Indian company to revolutionize children's education.
The latest version, Miko 3, functions like Amazon Alexa but offers much more. It engages in back-and-forth conversations, providing a truly interactive learning experience.
An AI powered robot: An AI-powered robot is a robot that uses artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to perform various tasks and interact with its environment. Unlike traditional robots that operate based on pre-programmed instructions, AI-powered robots can learn from their experiences, adapt to changing situations, and make decisions autonomously based on data and algorithms.
A safer environment
Parents have control over the topics their child discusses with Miko, creating a safe environment. Miko's AI adapts to the child's responses, interests, and engagement level, personalizing the learning experience. Content comes from Miko's platform and third-party publishers, ensuring selected and age-appropriate materials. Importantly, Miko is not connected to the internet, eliminating online risks.
Miko offers various educational apps designed in partnership with educators and psychologists, covering subjects like language arts, health, coding, and geography. Some apps are even created with renowned companies like Disney and Paramount.
Consumers' feedback has been extremely positive, with sales tripling yearly. Miko's fun features, like the "Dance Master" mode, makes learning enjoyable.
How does it work?
Ritvik Sharma, company’s senior vice president of growth, explained that parents can use Miko to address specific learning needs. For instance, if a parent wants their child to improve social skills, they can provide context, and Miko will engage the child in relevant conversations. During these exchanges, Miko's AI learns how the child responds and understands their interests and engagement level.
To address privacy concerns, Miko has physical hardware shutters for the camera. By doing so, it ensures that the camera is not recording or capturing any images or videos. This feature is implemented to address privacy concerns, as some people might feel uncomfortable having a camera in their living space, especially if it is constantly active.
A notable limitation of solely relying on a robot for education/learning
Despite Miko's benefits, experts warn against relying solely on AI-based products for education. Human teaching remains incomparable, as social connections and empathy, crucial for education and personal development, may be compromised by excessive technology reliance.
Michele Borba, a parenting expert and educational psychologist, also mentioned that the significant increase in kids' mental health issues and loneliness was partly due to distance learning and increased use of social media. Both children and adults crave for social connection and empathy, as it is a fundamental human trait.
Future plans
Miko has ambitious plans for the future, aiming to expand its AI technology in various areas of children's education and creativity.
To make sure that the technology reaches as many as possible, the company will soon launch Miko Mini, which is a more affordable version of the voice-controlled device powered by ChatGPT.
Miko's mission is to provide a safe and reliable technology that parents can confidently introduce to their children for educational screen time.
Currently available for around $249 (20,415 INR) online and in select stores, Miko 3 offers a personalized learning experience through AI-powered features and selected content.
While human teaching remains invaluable, Miko's contribution to enhancing children's education is undeniable.
Overall, Miko's commitment to advancing children's learning through AI technology promises a bright future for both Miko and similar educational robots.
Here’s the link to their website - https://miko.ai/