Yes. In Ello 2.0, your child talks with an AI tutor about activities, books, and their interests.
What powers the tutor?
Ello built its own speech recognition for children, which checks pronunciation so the tutor can coach your child. The tutor also uses large language models from third-party providers. They may process your child's audio and transcripts solely to provide the service, personalize learning, and improve Ello's educational features. Ello does not permit them to use it for their own purposes or to train their general-purpose models. We never sell your child's data or use it for advertising.
Who writes the stories and images?
Some of Ello's stories and illustrations were made with AI. Story Creation stories are written in real time, so no person reviews them first, but they pass through Ello's filters and additional third-party moderation systems. Weekly quest books are written by literacy specialists.
Can I share a story my child created?
Yes. In the US, when your child finishes a story in Story Creation, Ello asks if they'd like to share it and who with. If they say yes, we text you a link. The message starts with "Ello here! Passing along a request from" and your child's name.
That text really is from Ello. The link opens your child's story on the web, so anyone can read it without the app. It only goes to you, and you decide whether to pass it on.
How does Ello keep my child safe?
What Ello says is filtered before your child hears it: restricted words and phrases are blocked and replaced with a safer response.
What your child says is monitored in real time by a safety classifier.
If something concerning comes up, Ello follows its internal policy, for example steering to a safer topic or encouraging your child to talk to a trusted adult.
Your child can't interact with other users. There are no social features or third-party ads.
What happens if you're concerned about my child?
If our systems detect your child may be in distress or at risk of harm, our team is alerted automatically. Depending on how serious it is, we may contact you by email, phone, SMS, WhatsApp, or other means, keep and review the session, and temporarily restrict access. If there's a risk of imminent harm, we may contact the appropriate authorities.
These systems are automated. Ello is not an emergency service or a substitute for professional or medical help, and doesn't replace your supervision.
Does my child know it's AI?
Yes. Ello frequently reminds your child that it's an AI. It's designed to be a teacher, not a chatbot or a friend, and doesn't use emotional language to create a close personal bond. Personal or sensitive topics are directed to a trusted adult.
Which laws does Ello follow?
Ello complies with COPPA, Kenya's Data Protection Act, and requirements such as California SB 243 to detect and moderate anything a child says that might suggest a desire or intent to self-harm.
What if the tutor gets something wrong?
The tutor can mis-hear a word or use the wrong tense. If it does, please tell our support team the book or activity and what happened.
Classroom Mode uses speech recognition only, with no generative AI or LLM in live operation. See Does Ello Offer Classroom Mode or School Subscriptions?