KT's 'AI Codini' Enables Elementary Students to Create AI Coding Services... Knocking on the Public Education Market

Implement AI Services in a Few Clicks
Targeting B2B with Customized Platform 'Coding Space'

KT is nurturing artificial intelligence (AI) coding talents at 2,500 educational institutions nationwide through 'AI Codini.' Even elementary school students can create impressive AI services with just a few clicks. KT plans to add learning tools within the year, expand partnerships with external companies, and accelerate the spread of the service.

Park Chan-beom, Deputy General Manager of KT AI/Big Data Business Division, stated, "KT is discovering the most efficient ways to educate AI in schools and classrooms across the country."

Park Chan-beom, Deputy General Manager of KT AI/Big Data Business Division (center), is introducing the 'AI Kodini' service. [Photo by KT]

AI Codini is an educational platform designed to study coding easily by stacking blocks instead of using the complex and difficult traditional coding methods. Not only non-majors but also elementary and middle school students can create AI services. A demonstration was given of a project created by a first-year middle school student, where a disabled person could control an elevator with hand gestures while sitting in a wheelchair. Park said, "The project included sensor control, AI conversation, and control using palm and fist gestures," adding, "Usually, block coding ends within the computer, but AI Codini allows you to create robots with AI sensor control technology." He also added, "Students who initially had difficulty concentrating in class showed high satisfaction, to the point that they stayed in their seats even during breaks while learning and practicing AI principles."

One of the strengths is closing the educational gap with the AI tutor function. When coding gets stuck, the AI tutor gives hints just like a teacher, enabling anyone to learn coding. In the long term, the plan is to elevate this beyond simple personalized answers to a level where students and AI tutors can have conversations like ChatGPT.

Starting this month, KT added real-time integration support for the open-source hardware 'Arduino' as a new learning tool. Arduino is a board-type microcontroller widely used as a coding tool in educational settings. Park said, "KT AI Codini's Arduino offers concise and intuitive coding. For example, previously, turning a light off and on required five steps, but with AI Codini, it can be done with just one block." He added, "Existing services were inefficient in controlling Arduino, but we improved it by reflecting the requirements of teachers and tool companies." Additionally, Saeon's autonomous driving car robot 'Altino' and Smart Cube Labs' 'AI Robot Cube' were added as AI programming tools. These allow creative AI coding education, such as recognizing users through camera images or commanding autonomous driving by voice."

At an educational center in Seoul, a teacher is conducting integrated coding and hardware education for young students using KT AI Codini.
[Photo by KT]

KT is expanding the platform so that AI Codini can be used in various educational settings. Last year, multi-operating system (OS) support was added for PCs, Chromebooks, tablets, and more. This time, command input for tool operation was made possible not only via keyboard but also through voice and video. This enables coding education suitable for the AI and robotics era. Park said, "It is important to educate students to autonomously have creative ideas," adding, "In the second half of the year, we will also add drone tools, allowing students not only to fly drones but also to create desired shapes."

KT is also accelerating its approach to the business-to-business (B2B) market through 'Coding Space.' Coding Space is a platform that allows customers to select desired functions among AI Codini’s various features such as block coding, AI models, and class assistance, and provide them as their own block coding service. The Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education certified Codini Coding Space as an excellent edutech program and plans to provide student solutions through its integration with Incheon MOOC (i-MOOC). Additionally, KT CS is utilizing Coding Space in the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity’s Digital Sprout Camp project. Park said, "We are in discussions with Busan Science Museum and Seoul City, and private companies are also looking to adopt it," adding, "We are continuing negotiations to enter the public education market."