Regulators worldwide are intensifying efforts to enhance online safety for kids. Major social networks are under scrutiny, prompting the rollout of tools to protect children from harmful content. The focus lies on ensuring a safe online experience for kids.
While most initiatives target teenagers, toddlers also engage with digital devices. Three founders, with experience at companies like Google and Amazon, are developing an AI-powered browser/companion called Hello Wonder to create a secure space for kids to learn and explore.
The current iPad app from Hello Wonder allows parents complete control. Kids can interact with an AI chatbot to receive educational content and interactive experiences. The startup aims to address the lack of parental insights found in existing tools like YouTube Kids.
Hello Wonder has secured $2.1 million in funding from investors including Designer Fund, A16Z Scout Fund, GroundUp Ventures, and Chasing Rainbows, as well as notable individuals in the kids’ content industry.
Founded by industry veterans, Hello Wonder was created out of a necessity highlighted by the pandemic. The founders saw the potential of AI in supporting children’s learning and development.
A unique feature of Hello Wonder is the ability for parents to curate the content their children consume. The AI-powered environment sources safe content from across the internet based on the child’s interests.
Parents can customize what content type their children interact with, receive summaries of their consumption, and communicate preferences with the AI. Hello Wonder also facilitates interactions with trusted family contacts through messaging and video calls.
Jordan Odinsky from GroundUp Ventures praises Hello Wonder for its proactive approach in safeguarding kids from unsafe content. The app employs AI to screen content before delivering it to children, offering a more tailored and secure online experience.
The app’s innovative design prompts kids with search suggestions, sparking ideas and eliminating aimless browsing. Hello Wonder aims to evolve with the child’s growth, adapting content accordingly.
Currently free, Hello Wonder plans to introduce a subscription model in the future. The startup is also exploring expansion to Android tablets and Chromebooks.
