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Children get robot teachers - 17th December 2021

This tiny robot is called "Alpha Mini". It's assisting teachers in classrooms in South Korea's capital city, Seoul.

The 24.5 centimetre tall robots are full of useful skills. They help 4 and 5 year olds to dance and sing songs.

They read children stories. They teach Kung Fu and push-ups. Children can tell them to make silly noises.

Jang Min-sung: "It’s great fun."

Lee Ga-yoon: "When I tell it to sing, it sings well. I tell it to dance and we dance together. I can tell it to sit down on a chair I made."

Jang Min-sung: "I enjoy it watching it do kung-fu and singing."

Lee Ga-yoon: "Playing with the robot makes me happy."

Alpha Mini is an important educational tool. It's helping children to understand artificial intelligence. Han Dong-seog is from Seoul's city government's childcare team.

Han Dong-seog: "In the future, knowing how to manage AI and related tools will be very important. We believe having such experience in nursery schools will have a lasting effect through their youth and as adults."

300 of Seoul's nurseries and childcare centres are trying Alpha Mini. They're using it with children aged 4 to 6 years old. There are plans to train the robots to work with 3 year olds too.

Alpha Minis won't replace teachers. But they'll give them extra help.

Han Dong-seog: "We don’t think the robots will replace teachers, but they will assist them. After this year’s pilot programme and as we continue the programme next year, we will definitely have to develop a manual regarding the robot’s role and position."