Robbie

A safe, playful AI friend for Gen Z & Alpha

Project:

Hardward & AI Research

Location:

Vancouver

Type:

App

Building a trustworthy LLM‑powered buddy that’s portable, private, and joyfully educational for children.

Problem & Partnership

Polyform Labs identified a gap in conversational AI tools designed for kids—most systems weren’t built with young users’ safety, privacy, and developmental needs in mind. Inspired by our GenZ‑AI Framework, we partnered with child‑psychologists, educational experts, and hardware specialists to define a playful, secure, and intuitive AI toy that could live offline.

During discovery we sketched key usage scenarios—bedtime chats, learning prompts, creative storytelling—then prioritized safeguards like age‑curated content sets, parental oversight modes, local AI processing, and a tactile “cloud” form factor. Our design sprints and user tests ensured that interactions were delightfully simple and emotionally supportive without compromising safety.

Project Description

We designed “Robbie” as a friendly, cloud‑shaped mobile device that houses a lightweight LLM and tactile VUI (voice‑user interface) to guide kids through playful AI conversations. Every experience runs offline with no data sent to the cloud. The soft, durable enclosure doubles as a physical toy optimized for child safety—rounded corners, impact‑resistant shell, and a touch‑responsive surface.

Parents can enable a supervision mode to review questions and responses, but otherwise Robbie is plug‑and‑play. Early prototypes have shown strong emotional engagement from children pairing laughter, curiosity, and confidence in the device’s reliability. Robbie demonstrates that thoughtful AI design can scale safety, delight, and developmental value for kids.

Outcomes

Shipped

LLM-powered, offline AI toy with tactile interface

Prototype

Tested with Gen Z families in Vancouver pilot

Research

Furthered Polyform’s GenZ‑AI Framework

Impact

Set a blueprint for safe AI-first products for kids