Tech Talk: Code Ninjas adds AI to program for kids

WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — A coding franchise is getting young kids ready for the future by adding artificial intelligence and more to its coding program.

At Code Ninjas, it’s all about bringing fun to the process of learning how to code.

“They’re learning something as challenging as coding but in something that is familiar to them, like 2D or 3D games,” said Edward Kim, the vice president of education and training at Code Ninjas.

All that coding happens in a game-based atmosphere.

Now, they’re introducing an artificial intelligence module into what the 5- to 14-year-old kids are learning. The brand-new AI program is called AI Academy.

“Which is designed for young students to teach the kids how to leverage AI and know what kind of tools are out there and what to do with them,” said Kim.

Kim says it’s all about helping kids leverage AI.

“What parents can expect from it is that their kids will come out of the program well informed and well skilled to tackle the future ahead with AI technology,” said Kim. “We’re looking at about 40 to 50 different AI tools for the kids in different industries. It could be creative design, it could be coding, it’s writing basic prompt, engineering,” he added.

He said the First AI academy modules will be released on July 15.

This year, they also plan to enhance robotics learning for kids.

“In robotics, we give kids challenges to achieve, like make your robotic over this obstacle or move to the end of the room,” he said.

Kim said they also plan to add drone coding into the mix this year as well.

“Teaching students how to code drones, to overcome certain challenges, whether it’s an obstacle course, or like a pickup drop off like Amazon drones,” Kim said.

So, how are AI, coding and gaming blending together?

“I think gaming and AI can kind of combine and help all of us learn in new ways, keep us engaged so we can learn new skills that we probably could have learned with the way it was presented to us before,” said Kim.

“We’re just igniting passion to become computer programmers, game developers, something in the it field, or just creating things on their own and becoming independent publishers,” he added.