tonies® Trials AI Storytelling Facility

15/05/2023

tonies® launches UK trial of AI storytelling facility

A hand holding a mobile phone and a man sat with a young child beside a Toniebox

tonies®, a leading international digital audio platform for children with the award-winning Toniebox, is exploring the potential of AI storytelling. The aim is to help develop children’s imagination through a test with an AI-based content generator that allows users to create stories and listen to the audio file on the Toniebox in an instant.

The company’s approach reflects both the need for caution and responsibility as well as curiosity about this new technology. Selected users will be guided through a pre-set form to provide input for their stories, and they will also participate in a survey to share insights and reflections from this test.

Commenting is Patric Fassbender, co-founder and co-CEO. “With cautious excitement, we now dip our toes in the AI water and explore how kids – along with their parents – can properly use AI to tap into their unlimited creativity and keen sense of storytelling. At tonies®, it has always been our mission to provide kids with access to technology in a responsible and child-friendly way.”

tonies® will launch its AI-based content generator in mytonies, its digital user interface.

The test starts in mid-May with up to 1,000 users in the UK as one of tonies®’s core markets. Users can apply to participate in this test and get access to the new feature, which allows them to create their own stories together with their children.

They generate stories or documentaries by providing input via dropdowns and text fields. For example, the names of the hero and companions; the theme of the story (e.g., friendship); its tone (e.g., magical, comical), and the age of the listener for appropriate vocabulary. The pre-set input mask supports customers and gives them guidance and ideas to invent exciting stories while also leaving enough room for their children’s creativity and imagination.

As output, the AI-based generator creates a script that users can record themselves or convert into an audio file based on text-to-speech technology. Both can then be assigned to a Creative Tonie to enjoy the story right away on the Toniebox.

As a responsible company serving children, tonies® also implemented several restrictions and took measures to mitigate risks for inappropriate words and infringement of trademark or licensing rights.

For further information on tonies®, please click here.