We recently connected with Amber Ivey and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Amber, thanks for joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
The idea for AiDigiTales, and my first book “AI… Meets… AI,” came to me in such an unexpected way. I was thinking about my nieces and nephew and how technology is so involved in their lives from searching the internet with Alexa and watching educational content on YouTube. It made me wonder: “What’s going to shape their world as they grow up?” It didn’t take long to land on AI. It’s everywhere, and it’s only going to become more important. But when I looked around, I realized that none of the books or shows teaching kids about AI had kids like the littles in my life in mind – kids who might not see themselves reflected in tech roles.
That realization hit hard. I started thinking, “What if I could create something that could help them not only learn about AI but also see themselves as part of it?” That’s where “AI… Meets… AI” came from – the idea of Addy Iris, a girl who meets Jaz, an AI robot, and they learn from each other. I wanted it to be fun, not a dry educational book. I could picture it: colorful characters, simple explanations of what AI is, but wrapped up in a story that would actually excite kids.
At first, I didn’t know if it would work. I mean, the tech world is huge, and there are plenty of books out there. But something about this idea just felt right. It wasn’t just about teaching AI; it was about giving these kids a place in that world, helping them feel like they could be the ones creating the technology, not just using it. I got excited thinking about how this could grow beyond just a book – I started dreaming up a whole world for these characters, with a podcast, a cartoon series, and even more books. It all came together as AiDigiTales.
What really convinced me this was worth pursuing was the gap I saw. There was nothing out there like what I had in mind – something that not only taught AI but was also fun and inclusive. I knew that if I could make this work, it would resonate with parents and kids alike, especially those who don’t usually see themselves reflected in tech. It’s not just about solving a problem; it’s about creating something new and exciting.
What got me the most fired up was the idea of making AI less intimidating for these kids. I want them to see it as something they can understand and even create with – not just some distant, scary technology. When I started getting feedback on the book and seeing the potential for AiDigiTales to become bigger, I knew I was onto something real. This wasn’t just a passing thought; it was the beginning of something that could truly make a difference.
Amber, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Hey, I’m Amber Ivey, founder of AiDigiTales, and my journey here has been anything but traditional. I started out in government and non-profit work, helping folks use data to solve big challenges, but my passion for tech and education started to tug at me more and more. The turning point came when I was spending time with my nieces and nephew, and I realized there was a huge gap in the way we teach kids about AI – especially kids like them. That’s when I decided I had to do something.
So, I wrote my first book “AI… Meets… AI,” a fun, educational story about a girl named Addy Iris who meets an AI robot named Jaz. It’s all about breaking down AI in a way that kids can understand, while also making sure they see themselves reflected in these future tech roles. From that book, AiDigiTales was born. Now, it’s grown into so much more: a podcast, an upcoming animated series, and interactive content that’s all about helping kids learn about AI in a way that feels exciting, not overwhelming.
What sets AiDigiTales apart is that we’re not just about teaching tech – we’re about representation. We make sure that kids, especially those from underrepresented communities, see themselves as creators and leaders in the world of AI. It’s fun, it’s engaging, and it’s rooted in making sure no one is left behind as this technology becomes a bigger part of our lives.
I’m most proud of the impact we’re starting to have. My book “AI… Meets… AI” is a bestseller in its category, and we’re getting more and more interest in the animated series. The goal has always been to empower kids, and seeing them light up when they talk about AI – or when their parents reach out to say how much they learned – is what keeps me going.
If there’s one thing I want people to know about AiDigiTales, it’s that we’re here to make sure kids, especially those from underserved communities, don’t just understand AI – they lead in creating it. We offer stories, content, and tools that make learning about AI accessible, fun, and inclusive. We’re still growing, but the mission is clear: help kids unlock their potential in a tech-driven world, and do it in a way that makes them feel empowered.
At the end of the day, it’s not just about AI; it’s about giving kids the confidence and creativity to dream big. And that’s what AiDigiTales is all about.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn is the idea that education only happens in specific places, like a classroom, and only at certain times, like when we’re in school. I used to believe that learning was something you did in a structured environment, with teachers and textbooks, and once you got your degree, that was it. But as I worked more with tech and saw the world through the eyes of my nieces and nephew, I realized that education is happening all around us, all the time. The world is our classroom, and we’re learning every single day – especially when it comes to technology.
The backstory behind this shift came when I was writing “AI… Meets… AI.” At first, I was thinking of it as just a fun way to introduce kids to AI. But the more I developed the story, the more I saw how much kids, and even adults, were hungry for this kind of knowledge. AI isn’t something they’re just learning about in school; it’s becoming a part of everyday life. Kids are interacting with it through their devices, their toys, even their games, and yet, they weren’t being taught how to understand it in ways that felt natural and exciting.
That’s when I knew we had to think bigger with AiDigiTales. It couldn’t just be a one-time book or a podcast episode; it had to be something that supported kids throughout their journey, wherever they are. Learning doesn’t stop when they close a book or finish a lesson – it continues when they’re watching a cartoon, playing a game, or asking questions about the world. So, we made sure everything we create is designed to meet kids where they are. The podcast, the upcoming animated series, the interactive content – it’s all about making sure they can learn at their own pace, in a way that feels fun and connected to their everyday lives.
Unlearning that education has to fit into a box was freeing. It allowed me to see that our work with AiDigiTales could be so much more impactful if we embraced the idea that kids learn in all kinds of ways, in all kinds of places. Now, we’re focused on making sure we provide tools and stories that help them grow not just in one setting, but throughout their entire journey. That’s why AiDigiTales is about more than just teaching AI – it’s about helping kids discover, explore, and create, no matter where they are or how they like to learn.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
Funding AiDigiTales was a true bootstrap journey. I started by investing my own money to get things off the ground. When I first wrote “AI… Meets… AI,” it was all about taking that leap of faith. I knew I had a vision that could really resonate with kids and their families, but like any startup, I didn’t have a big budget to rely on. So, I used my savings to cover the costs of writing, illustrating, and publishing the book.
Once “AI… Meets… AI” was out in the world, it was the book sales that kept the momentum going. Every time someone bought a copy, it wasn’t just a sale – it was a way to fund the next step. That’s how I started building AiDigiTales as a business. The revenue from the book allowed me to reinvest and expand, creating the podcast and planning for the animated series. Bit by bit, it was the book sales that gave AiDigiTales life beyond just an idea.
But I knew if I wanted to scale and truly reach the communities I care about – especially kids in underrepresented areas like Baltimore – I needed more funding. So, I started seeking out grants and other funding opportunities. We’ve been fortunate to receive some small investments from grants, which have helped us grow further and keep the vision alive.
Right now, we’re still actively looking for more funding to help take AiDigiTales to the next level, but I’m proud of how far we’ve come by starting small, staying scrappy, and believing in the power of this mission. Every grant, every book sold, every bit of support gets us closer to building something that can really make a difference.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://aidigitales.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aidigitales_aiforkids/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AiDigiTales/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aidigitales
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AiDigiTales
