Phitchaya Phothilimthana, a Thai computer engineer, currently works with OpenAI after previously being part of Google DeepMind’s research team. Curico, a non-profit side project of Phitchaya, focuses on educational issues, stemming from his passion for learning. Combining his academic background in education with his work in AI at a leading global company raised the question of how AI can address educational challenges.
Inspired by reading the biography of physicist Richard Feynman, Phitchaya’s upbringing resembled Feynman’s in nurturing curiosity and critical thinking. This led to the conception of Curico, utilizing AI to cultivate a learning environment adaptable for all children, regardless of their caregivers’ teaching skills.
Curico is a mobile app powered by AI, recommending science activities, inventions, natural studies, arts, and storytelling aimed at making learning fun and engaging at home. Through voice interaction, the app guides children step by step, unlike conventional chatbot models. The unique feature of Cuico lies in prompting children to think, observe, and explore through conversations.
Behind Curico lies a text/audio AI model, with plans to expand to a vision model in the future. Developed as a volunteer effort by Phitchaya and colleagues in the San Francisco Bay Area, including both Thai and international members, Curico seeks Thai student interns to collaborate remotely with the core team in the US.
Phitchaya views the internship opportunity as a valuable experience for Thai students to work alongside professionals from OpenAI and Google directly. Proficiency in English communication is vital due to the diverse team and time zone differences, requiring interns to be independent workers proficient in either software engineering or educational backgrounds. Additionally, Curico is also hiring full-time contractors.
TLDR: Phitchaya Phothilimthana’s Curico project uses AI to revolutionize education, inspired by Richard Feynman’s teaching philosophy, seeking Thai student interns and contractors to join the team.
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