AI-Powered Language Learning Camera Dex Helps Kids Ages 3-8 Learn Languages Through Real-World Interaction

Dex is an AI-powered camera device designed to help children aged 3 to 8 learn new languages through real-world interaction. Created by three former tech professionals—Reni Cao, Xiao Zhang, and Susan Rosenthal—Dex was born out of concern over excessive screen time. The founders left their tech careers to build a product that encourages kids to explore the physical world while learning language in a hands-on, engaging way. The device looks like a high-tech magnifying glass, with a camera on one side and a touchscreen on the other. When children point Dex at an object, its AI uses image recognition to identify the item and instantly translates the word into the selected language. The device also includes interactive stories and games that prompt kids to respond, ask questions, and participate in the narrative, promoting active learning rather than passive consumption. Dex currently supports eight major languages—Chinese, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish—as well as 34 dialects, including Egyptian Arabic, Taiwanese Mandarin, and Mexican Spanish. The company is developing a feature that lets kids chat with an AI assistant, allowing for free-form conversation. While this feature is already available to testers, the team acknowledges it’s not yet ready for general release due to safety concerns. During testing, the AI correctly ignored inappropriate topics like nudity but did recognize and translate the word “gun.” In response, the company plans to add a customizable word filter in settings, allowing parents to block specific terms such as guns, cigarettes, vape pens, fireworks, marijuana, and beer bottles. The AI is trained on vocabulary aligned with children’s reference materials like Britannica Kids, and includes a real-time safety agent that monitors conversations and blocks content related to sexuality, religion, politics, and other sensitive topics using a stop word list. Dex operates under a zero data retention policy, meaning no images or data are stored on servers, protecting children’s privacy. However, this also means parents cannot review what their children have photographed, which could be a concern for some. The company is working toward COPPA certification to ensure compliance with children’s online privacy laws. Dex is priced at $250, a premium for a children’s gadget, but the founders argue it’s more affordable than hiring a private tutor—up to $80 per hour—or enrolling in a language immersion school, which can cost thousands. The company recently raised $4.8 million in funding from investors including ClayVC, EmbeddingVC, Parable, and UpscaleX. Notable angel investors include Pinterest founder Ben Silbermann, Curated co-founder Eduardo Vivas, Lillian Weng (former head of safety at OpenAI), and Richard Wong (ex-Coursera). Hundreds of families have already purchased Dex, and the founders believe the device offers a unique blend of play, exploration, and language learning that traditional apps cannot match. “We’re teaching authentic language in the real world in a way that’s interactive,” Cao said. “Kids aren’t just following instructions—they’re thinking, creating, moving, and being curious.”