My oldest turns 6 in just over a week and my initial reaction to this heading - as well as the product itself and the picture of the kid using it - was heartbreak and sadness. Not anger, just sadness. Like when you read a story about a kid that's a victim of a crime.

Stepping back, I can look at it somewhat objectively and see that there are both kids that need something like this and that it's probably a better solution to the "dumb" homework apps that the kids use for 20 mins a week at this age, but I don't think "Ello deprives 5 year olds of human contact" is the message you should be putting out into the world.

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teichman 3 hours ago | parent [-]

I deeply wish I had AI-accelerated education growing up rather than sitting bored out of my mind while a teacher lectures at the bottom quartile

	▲	TheOtherHobbes 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Top quartile kids would easily be a year or three ahead with good virtual tutoring. But efforts like this run into the problem that only some kids are curious. The idea that "all kids are curious" simply isn't true. A lot of kids prefer sports or movement over anything even remotely intellectual, and math and language just don't interest them at all. AI tutoring can't deal with that. Nor can more conventional electronic tutors. IMO rewards for completing work need to be external - basically physical treats of some kind, not sweets, but days out or off or something similar - to compensate for those areas where kids aren't naturally motivated.