Irmak Atabek
With the goal to help children understand, navigate, and thrive in an AI-powered world, Irmak Atabek founded the technology and media company KidsAI. She moved to Dubai after being selected for the AI Campus in the city’s International Finance Centre. Señal News spoke with Atabek to understand how she works to personalize and localize children’s experience and interaction with AI.
How does KidsAI work to develop ethical and safe AI to help children understand, navigate, and thrive in an AI-powered world?
"AI is already part of children's lives, in the games they play, the videos they watch, and the answers they search for. Yet many parents are unaware of the risks these technologies pose, especially regarding data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the emotional cues children may misinterpret. At KidsAI, we believe AI should not pretend to be human. One of our core principles is to avoid anthropomorphising AI, because children deserve to know what they're interacting with. We're designing age-appropriate AI behaviour that fosters learning and emotional well-being, without blurring the line between machine and human. Through our Innovation Hub, we collaborate with global experts in AI ethics, developmental psychology, and education to define what the healthiest relationship between children and machines should look like. Our assistant, Olii, is built to encourage questions, spark curiosity, and help children learn how AI works - while always maintaining transparency and respect for their cognitive development."
What specific context and particularities do you observe in the Middle East regarding AI and kids' content?
"The Gulf region is undergoing a rapid technological shift, with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries leading with bold initiatives. In the UAE, AI literacy is now a mandatory part of the school curriculum, a significant step that signals how governments are thinking long-term about education and ethics. We see a high level of interest, innovation, and early adoption in this region, but also a need for accessible, culturally resonant tools that help parents and educators keep up with the changes. Many families are excited by the possibilities of AI but feel unprepared and unsupported to guide their children through it. That's where KidsAI steps in to fill that gap with safe, localized, and values-aligned learning experiences."
How has being based and working from the UAE changed your perspective on the global industry?
"Being in the UAE has made us think more globally while staying deeply connected to local culture and identity. The country is shaping itself as a bridge between East and West, offering fertile ground for innovation with structure, which is especially important when developing products for children. The openness to collaboration here is exceptional. We've found it to be a place where bold ideas can be tested, scaled, and meaningfully regulated. That combination has given us new confidence in how to build AI technologies that are inclusive, responsible, and future-proof, not just for one market, but for a globally diverse generation of children."
How does KidsAI personalize and localize children’s experience of interacting with AI while giving them insight into how the technology works?
"We're living in a moment of extreme hype and fear around AI. For us, the most important step is understanding. AI is not magic, and children should know that. At KidsAI, we break down AI into concepts kids can relate to: What is bias? What is a dataset? How does a machine 'learn'? If children can understand how fairness works in the playground, they can begin to grasp what fairness means in an algorithm. We personalize learning by designing for multiple languages, cultural references, and local symbols. Our AI doesn't just speak a child's language; it reflects their world and their developmental needs. Every interaction is an opportunity to teach them how AI actually works. That way, they grow up not mystifying the technology but engaging with it thoughtfully."
Beyond technology, KidsAI is also developing media projects, such as "Project Olii." Can you tell us about that?
"Alongside building the Olii assistant, we're also telling stories that make AI literacy fun, engaging, and exciting! 'Project Olii' is a fun and fast-paced animated series for kids aged 6-9 that follows the comedic adventures of Zoe (9), a curious coder with a big imagination, and her best friend Minjun (10), a hands-on builder who's always dreaming up new inventions. When they build Olii, a playful, AI-powered robot, the trio unlocks a world of discovery, mischief, and laugh-out-loud lessons about the wonders and hilarious limits of artificial intelligence! Through their adventures, we explore real AI concepts like automation, hallucination, algorithmic decision-making, and more, but in a way that feels like everyday kid life. Zoe's character is essential to us: she's designed to inspire girls to step into tech not by preaching, but by being funny, bold, and effortlessly smart. The series will launch on YouTube and is part of our mission to make AI literacy engaging, accessible, and globally relatable."
As three women co-founders in the AI space, how do you see women’s role in shaping the future of AI?
"We are three women building an AI company for children, and we think that matters deeply. Because AI is built on data, and data reflects the world we live in. If that world lacks diversity, then so will the technologies that shape our children's futures. That's why we approach AI development not just as a technical challenge, but as a cultural responsibility. As women and as mothers, we bring lived experiences into the design of technology that will literally talk to the next generation. We believe that clean, inclusive inputs lead to clean, inclusive outputs. And if we want AI to reflect empathy, fairness, and diversity, women must be at the table designing its behaviour, ethics, and governance."
How can schools, organisations, or partners collaborate with KidsAI?
"We're currently working with schools, educational organisations, and public institutions to help shape a future where children grow up informed, empowered, and safe in an AI-driven world. We offer consultancy on their AI transformation and give interactive seminars and workshops on AI literacy and digital safety, designed specifically for parents, teachers, and students. We're also about to launch our 'AI & Children' Certification Program, co-created with worldwide experts in education, psychology, and AI ethics. The certificate is designed to help schools and organisations understand the impact of AI on child development and design age-appropriate strategies. It will officially launch in January. From March 2026, we'll begin piloting our Olii AI assistant in 20 selected schools, and we're already receiving strong interest from both public and private institutions. We're incredibly excited about how fast this is growing - and always open to conversations with new partners who share our mission."