“Teaching Hindi Literacy with an AI tutor” by Tom Delaney

Executive Summary Problem: 70% of 10-year-olds in Low-and-Middle Income Countries can’t read. In India, foundational literacy remains critically low, especially in Hindi-speaking regions. Intervention: An AI-powered app based on a proven pedagogy, which achieved +0.4 SD learning gains (equivalent to ~2 years of business as usual schooling) in 45-day RCTs involving thousands of government school students, using paper books. The app will guide 15-minute daily home sessions via parents' smartphones. Cost-effectiveness: Estimated $5 per person annual income doubling (Charity Entrepreneurship's bar: $30 or less), with an overall benefit-cost ratio of ~200:1. Ask: We’re seeking feedback on our cost-effectiveness model and scaling plan, as well as introductions to contacts at Google, for potential integration with their ReadAlong app.   🔗 Links to project materials (these are open access, so please leave comments): Detailed report (2 hour read) Pitch deck (20 minute read) Cost-effectiveness spreadsheet Literature review of Ed-Tech in developing countries Demo video of app prototype (2 [...] ---Outline:(00:10) Executive Summary(01:36) The Case for AI teaching Foundational Hindi Literacy(04:46) Importance Tractability Neglectedness Framework(04:51) Importance(05:17) Neglectedness(05:58) Tractability(07:06) How does the app actually work?(07:38) Scaling Plan(08:17) Cost-Effectiveness Model(09:38) My biggest doubts(11:23) Next Steps and Asks(12:08) Acknowledgements--- First published: May 15th, 2025 Source: https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/2pyruWZN3LiWJPbHk/teaching-hindi-literacy-with-an-ai-tutor --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO. ---Images from the article:Apple Podcasts and Spotify do not show images in the episode description. Try Pocket Casts, or another podcast app.