Smarter Speech for Smarter Play: Powering LLMs in Kids’ Devices

Large Language Models (LLMs) are changing how we interact with technology, but when it comes to children’s products, it is paramount that these interactions are private, secure, and age-appropriate.

That’s where Sensory comes in. Our advanced voice AI technology enables language models to run safely and effectively—especially in products designed for kids.

From custom wake words to natural language speech recognition tuned for children’s voices, Sensory provides the critical front-end tools that allow these language models—whether on-device or in the cloud—to work reliably, accurately, and privately for young users.

Voice Tech That Understands Kids: On Device or in the Cloud

Sensory products support children’s speech with kid-tuned speech recognition models, available in small, medium, and large footprints to support different devices and environments. These models accurately convert a child’s spoken input into text, feeding into the model of your choice, whether it’s on-device or cloud-hosted.

Our TrulyHandsfree™ wake words and embedded speech-to-text can run locally on the device, enabling offline or hybrid solutions that minimize latency and maximize privacy.

Wake Word to LLM: Flexible Paths for Smarter Kids’ Products

We’re seeing a growing demand in the kids’ tech space for LLM-enabled experiences, especially those that begin with a hands-free wakeword, followed by a voice query. Sensory provides the robust speech front-end that kicks off these interactions.

Our customers leverage Sensory in two main ways:

• Run entirely on-device, combining Sensory’s wake word and recognizer with an embedded LLM to protect user privacy. 
• Use Sensory’s on-device voice front-end, then hand off to a cloud LLM for more complex responses.

In both cases, Sensory ensures natural, reliable, and secure speech input—purpose-built for children’s unique speech patterns.

Want to build your own wakewords or command sets? Try VoiceHub—Sensory’s no-code online platform for fast and easy customization.

Designed for Privacy. Built for Kids.

Sensory’s tech helps customers meet children’s privacy regulations and requirements by enabling fully offline voice options and preventing unnecessary data collection.

Our speech technology is:

• Highly accurate for children’s speech (even with disfluencies, stutters, and variable grammar)
• Compact and efficient, able to run on chips with limited memory and processing
• Privacy-first, allowing products to work without recording or transmitting voice data

Learn more about our Small, Powerful, and Private Voice AI and how we help customers build responsible, child-friendly voice interfaces.

Why the Edge Matters Now More Than Ever

With Google and others releasing on-device LLMs, the industry is shifting toward more secure, decentralized AI. Sensory has been leading this movement for years, delivering embedded speech solutions that protect user privacy and enhance user experience.

Now, we’re making it easier than ever for companies to build voice-first experiences that protect children’s data and delight their curiosity.

Ready to Power Smarter, Safer Voice Experiences for Kids?

Sensory’s tools are trusted by leading brands to power LLM-driven interactions in toys, education tools, and screen-free devices. If you’re building for kids, we’ll help you go from wake word to LLM with the accuracy, flexibility, and privacy your product deserves.

Contact us today to learn more.