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The Trend: AI Edu-play-tion

ASH, an AI-pocket field guide by F!nh, UK

According to Vice, because Gen Alpha have more screen time than any other generation, ‘iPad kids are [now] getting out of hand’. Millennials are reportedly raising ‘bizarre and terribly behaved’ children glued to screens. Those aged 8–12 in the US consume on average four hours and 44 minutes of screen time per day for entertainment purposes (source: McCrindle). This could mean their engagement with the world is limited or experienced only through technology, leading to fewer real-life conversations, independent play or exploration.

This is where artificial intelligence steps in. A new generation of innovators are coming up with AI-powered analogue solutions redirecting children away from iPad screens, doom scrolling on TikTok and YouTube, and flat television screens. These educational toys and games that encourage, support and guide young kids through the exploration of their surroundings embody a new age of AI Edu-play-tion.

From an early age, children could develop a preference for tactile, interactive and exploratory learning environments with artificial intelligence – turning toddlers into AI-literate consumers. According to Alexis Bardini, design lead and partner at FInh, AI could generate not only conversations but also real magic for this generation of children.

In our AI Edu-play-tion microtrend report, we talk to the innovators using generative artificial intelligence to re-imagine screen-free educational play time for children.

The Big Idea: Five brands shaping the future of voice-activated AI wearables

A significant shift towards touchless devices is playing out in the technology industry, driven by increased commercialisation and accessibility of artificial intelligence (AI).

Consumer desire for self-optimisation and Longevity Lifestyles, coupled with high spending on personal health and wellness products, has fuelled demand for wearable devices: the average US woman spends £604 ($768, €710) each year on health and wellness, according to Pymnts, and the overall market is expected to continue to grow. Hands-free convenience and frictionless AI integrations are set to characterise the next generation of wearable tech devices, evolving to meet consumer needs and effortlessly assimilate into everyday life.

SJ Kim, founder and co-CEO of South Korean tech start-up VTouch, highlighted this shift, telling Dezeen, ‘AI-based conversational computing is expected to be the next big thing that goes beyond the limitations of graphical user interfaces such as PCs and smartphones.’

In Five Brands Shaping the Future of Voice-Activated AI Wearables, we highlight the innovators harnessing voice-activated AI to seamlessly integrate wearable tech into our everyday lives.

Nothing Ear (a), UK

The Campaign: Camdom is the world’s first digital condom for safer intimacy

Camdom by Billy Boy, Germany

This Sexual Health Awareness Month (September 2024), condom brand Billy Boy and creative agency Innocean Berlin unveiled Camdom, an app that acts as a digital condom, safeguarding users from non-consensual recordings during intimate moments. By blocking all cameras and microphones when two smartphones are paired, Camdom tackles the growing issue of non-consensual content leaks, which can cause lasting emotional harm.

‘Smartphones have become an extension of our bodies,’ said developer Felipe Almeida in a press release. He noted the app’s ability to ‘block your camera and mic simply through Bluetooth’. If a user tries to bypass the block, an alarm alerts both parties, ensuring accountability.

Alexander Strümann of Billy Boy added: ‘We wanted to protect the digital generation from a threat that a traditional condom can’t tackle.’ Promoted across social media, podcasts and billboards near nightclubs and universities, Camdom is available on iOS and Android, extending protection to multiple devices simultaneously.

For more best-in-class examples of technology designed for young people’s wellbeing and safety, head to our Teens, Tech and Tapping Out report.

The Viewpoint: How to master AI

Sphere Entertainment, Los Angeles, US

AI was on everyone’s lips in 2023 as the curiosity about large language models – from individuals and businesses – grew significantly. The year 2024, as seen at CES, SXSW Austin, Mobile World Congress, VivaTech, is the one of AI adoption: while a number of companies are launching their own GPTs, Apple has introduced the first generation of iPhones designed from the ground up for Apple Intelligence.

Jeremy Kahn, Fortune’s AI editor and the author of Mastering AI: A Survival Guide to Our Superpowered Future (released in summer 2024) predicts that by 2025, the proof of concept phase for AI will come to an end and firms will begin implementing these technologies more efficiently and cost-effectively.

The current scepticism around AI aligns with the Trough of Disillusionment in the Gartner Hype Cycle, but Kahn believes this phase will be short-lived, with genuine adoption expected to gain momentum. ‘I think we’re going to see real adoption pick up,’ he tells LS:N Global.

In October 2024, we sat down with Jeremy Kahn as he shared the key insights from his latest book, Mastering AI: A Survival Guide to Our Superpowered Future. Access the full interview now.

The Space: FriendsWithYou, fuzzy AI robots exhibition opens at Cleveland Public Library

The Band by FriendsWithYou. Photography by Catherine Young, US

Art duo FriendsWithYou has unveiled The BAND, a playful installation of five fuzzy, autonomous robots at Cleveland Public Library. Programmed with AI and designed to interact with visitors, these colourful robots – named ROC, ETZ, LIX, PMJ and FUR – are bringing joy and healing to visitors through movement and sound.

The BAND, which stands for Biodigital Autonomous Neuro Dancers, spins, dances and emits soothing frequencies as it glides through the space. Visitors are encouraged to engage with the robots by pressing buttons embedded in their soft bodies. The robots, adorned in vibrant hues of yellow, blue, purple, pink and green, navigate their surroundings with care, avoiding obstacles and people as they perform.

FriendsWithYou aims to highlight the positive potential of AI. ‘We want the public to have a joyful connection with AI,’ the duo explains. By combining art, technology and human interaction, The BAND encourages communal experiences and challenges negative perceptions of AI.

The installation, produced in collaboration with LAND Studio and Deeplocal, runs for one year at Cleveland Public Library’s Brett Hall.

To find out more about how generative artificial intelligence is being applied to innovative educational and entertainment resources, read our The Synthocene Era macrotrend report and AI Edu-play-tion microtrend report.

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