Dex is an AI-Powered Camera Helping Kids Learn New Languages

Parents looking to introduce their kids to another language have plenty of apps to choose from, but Dex takes a different approach. Instead of putting another traditional learning app in front of them, the AI-powered camera encourages kids to explore the world around them.

Designed for children between three and eight years old, Dex is a language discovery camera that uses AI and image recognition to identify objects photographed by a child. Snap a picture of an apple, for example, and Dex can identify the object and teach the corresponding word in the language they’re learning.

Dex currently supports 16 languages and more than 30 dialects, including English, French, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Arabic, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Polish, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.

The idea is to make language learning more active than sitting in front of a screen watching videos or working through lessons. Children can walk around their home, neighbourhood, museum, or virtually anywhere else and turn the objects they find into vocabulary lessons.

The camera also adapts its responses based on a child’s age and language level. Photographing the same object multiple times can introduce additional concepts such as its colour, shape, function, or a related story.

There’s more to Dex than snapping pictures. The device can automatically turn discoveries into flashcards and includes scavenger hunts and interactive stories where speaking the new language can change how the adventure progresses. Parents can also follow what their child is learning through the companion Dex app.

Dex features a 13-megapixel camera, a 2.1-inch touchscreen, 64GB of storage, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 4G LTE connectivity. The company says the device doesn’t provide children with access to the broader internet and doesn’t use children’s information for advertising. By default, photos and voice recordings of children aren’t stored.

Dex makes ambitious claims: children discover an average of around 450 vocabulary words within their first month, eventually surpassing 1,000 words by six months.

The Dex Language Discovery Camera is available in red or yellow for $249 USD (roughly $343 CAD) through Dex’s website. The starter package includes unlimited camera use and 10 activities, while optional paid plans provide additional content and custom activities.