RileyBot creates safe AI learning experiences for students with Claude

RileyBot uses Claude to power an AI learning assistant that helps K-12 students learn more effectively while giving teachers and parents complete transparency into children' s AI interactions.

With Claude, RileyBot:

• Increases student self-efficacy and confidence in learning
• Reduces classroom disruption by helping students get unstuck quickly
• Provides age-appropriate responses based on student learning needs
• Enables complete transparency of AI interactions for teachers and parents
• Maintains strict safety standards for K-12 students

Making AI safe and beneficial for education

As AI adoption accelerates, schools must help students use AI safely and productively. If they don’t, students will likely use AI tools on their smartphones without any school oversight. It’s also often challenging for schools to find technology solutions specifically built for education, rather than retrofitted corporate tools.

"Most educational tools aren't built for education. They're just an afterthought - companies build their main product first, then create a school version," said Adam Webster, architect of RileyBot and Director of Digital Transformation at Caterham School in the UK.

Webster saw an opportunity to lead AI adoption in schools, unlike previous technology waves. "With social media, the horse was out of the gates by the time schools got to it, and there still isn't a safe version for students," said Webster. "But with AI, we have an opportunity to be first and create a safe version. Students will use AI tools anyway, and now they'll have RileyBot as a resource for responsible AI use."

Sphinx AI, Caterham School’s subsidiary EdTech company, built an AI platform specifically designed for K-12 environments that adapts to students' ages and learning needs while maintaining strict safety standards and giving teachers and parents complete visibility into AI interactions, drawing on his experience as an educator and digital safety expert.

Choosing Claude for safety and age-appropriate interactions

When RileyBot launched, they started by using one of OpenAI’s GPT models, but soon discovered insufficient safety measures for younger students. They subsequently found a compliant solution in Claude, which stood out for its robust safety focus and Anthropic's willingness to engage on educational use cases.

“Anthropic immediately had its trust and safety team evaluate and approve our use case, and they provided clear guidelines for working with students under 13. That opened up a whole new generation of learners,” said Webster.

The ethical alignment between Anthropic and RileyBot was crucial for the partnership. "As soon as I spoke to someone at Anthropic, I felt our missions were aligned," said Webster. "There's a sense of 'we want to be careful and do good.' That is super important when you're talking about education and children."

How RileyBot uses Claude to transform learning

RileyBot integrates with school management systems to understand each student's age, classes, teachers, and learning needs. This allows Claude to:

• Provide age-appropriate responses and accommodate learning needs
• Offer helpful instructions to guide students to the answer, rather than just give them the answer
• Give feedback on student work through photo uploads
• Enable voice conversations for natural interaction
• Flag inappropriate content for teacher review
• Give parents visibility into their children's AI interactions

Improving outcomes for teachers and students

RileyBot's Claude-powered platform has transformed classroom dynamics by removing common learning barriers: fear of asking questions, waiting for teacher assistance, and the need for personalized support. The result is more confident students and more effective educators.

Fear of judgment often prevents students from seeking help when they don't understand something. Webster said, "Kids are brave when it comes to school. They'll put their hand up and ask a question. But if you get an answer and you still don't understand, it can feel incredibly daunting to put your hand up again. With RileyBot, you can ask again without judgment. Eventually you understand, and that's huge for kids."

RileyBot also solves the problem of students waiting for teacher assistance. Webster said, "In a normal classroom, if a teacher is helping one student, three others might be stuck waiting. Now the teacher says 'I'm going to speak to this student, you three get started with RileyBot and I'll come back.' The teacher returns and they say ‘we’re okay; we sorted it ourselves.' Even though RileyBot helped them, they feel amazing because they were in control of solving the problem."

The platform excels in providing personalized support. For example, one student with dyscalculia, a math learning disability, struggled with a concept until RileyBot explained it using building blocks instead of numbers. "This student shared, 'my teacher's been trying to explain this to me for a month, but this is the first time I've understood it.'" By providing always-on, personalized support, RileyBot creates a more level playing field for all students, regardless of their language, learning needs, or access to academic support at home.

Building the future of AI in education

RileyBot aims to transform how schools adopt AI by creating safe, transparent learning experiences that prepare students for an AI-powered future. Webster said, "These kids will never know life without AI. We have a responsibility to introduce them to AI in a way that teaches good habits and shows what responsible AI use looks like."

The challenges facing schools extend beyond AI safety. Many schools struggle to find qualified teachers for subjects like physics and computer science, while others face budget constraints limiting individual support. Webster sees AI as part of the solution: "This isn't about taking jobs—it's about filling huge gaps in education."

RileyBot will continue developing tools to help schools stay ahead of AI adoption through their partnership with Anthropic, unlike previous technology waves that caught education off guard. Their goal is to expand access to safe, effective AI learning tools while helping schools navigate the complexity of AI integration. For RileyBot, success means ensuring every student can confidently and responsibly use AI to enhance their learning—skills that will serve them well throughout their academic and professional lives.