An Agentic AI Speaking-Confidence Companion for Children (Ages 6–14)
Guftagu (Urdu for "conversation" or "dialogue") is an AI-powered mobile application that helps children aged 6–14 in Karachi develop speaking confidence through daily 3–5 minute conversations with culturally rooted AI characters.
The app addresses a critical gap in Pakistan's EdTech landscape — zero solutions exist for verbal confidence building. Children consume endless content but never learn to express themselves. Guftagu changes that.
| Character | Age Group | Persona | Theme Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zara | 10–14 years | 16-year-old from Saddar, Karachi. Casual Urdu-English mix. Warm but challenging. | 🟣 #7C5CBF |
| Robo Bhaya | 6–9 years | Quirky robot-uncle. Energetic, funny, says "BEEP BOOP". | 🔵 #2196F3 |
| Ustad Sahab | 12–14 years | Wise mentor figure. Respectful, gives real feedback. | 🟢 #4CAF50 |
| Layer | Technology |
|---|---|
| Frontend | React Native, Expo, React Navigation |
| Styling | StyleSheet API, Expo Linear Gradient |
| Animations | React Native Animated API, Lottie |
| Video | expo-video |
| Audio Recording | expo-av |
| AI Brain | OpenAI GPT-3.5-turbo |
| Speech-to-Text | OpenAI Whisper |
| Text-to-Speech | ElevenLabs |
| Backend | Firebase Firestore, Firebase Auth |
| Version Control | GitHub |
| Member | Role | Key Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| Izhan Waheed (2312392) | Team Lead & AI Integration | Overall architecture, Expo setup, navigation stack, session screen, Gemini API, ElevenLabs TTS, Whisper STT, video state machine, GitHub management, end-to-end debugging |
| Iman Shahzad (2312370) | UI/UX Designer | Character designs (Zara, Robo Bhaya, Ustad Sahab), color palette, visual identity, wireframes, interactive prototypes, kid-friendly UI improvements, emotional connection design |
| Ebad ur Rehman (2312362) | Backend Developer | Firebase project setup, Firestore collections, Anonymous & Email Authentication, security rules, backend deployment |
| Piyush Vatwani (2312381) | AI Research & Backend Support | Agentic workflow research, Firestore schema design, Firebase security rules documentation, input validation across all screens, VPC documentation, COPPA compliance checklist |
Splash Screen → Age Gate → Parent Consent → Name Input → Character Selection
→ Session Screen → Session Complete → Dashboard → Parent Portal → Parent Dashboard
- ✅ Raw audio deleted immediately after transcription
- ✅ No voice biometrics stored
- ✅ Math-quiz VPC (Verifiable Parental Consent) gate
- ✅ Anonymous Firebase Auth only
- ✅ Parent data deletion capability
- ✅ Age gate at onboarding
Guftagu/
├── assets/
│ ├── characters/ # Character images (Zara, Robo, Ustad)
│ ├── videos/ # 12 video files (4 states × 3 characters)
│ ├── voices/ # ElevenLabs audio files
│ └── fonts/ # Poppins family (5 weights)
├── src/
│ ├── screens/ # All UI screens
│ ├── services/ # API integrations (Gemini, Whisper, ElevenLabs, Firebase)
│ ├── navigation/ # React Navigation stack
│ └── hooks/ # Custom hooks (usePreloadAssets)
└── firestore.rules # COPPA-compliant security rules
# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/izhan77/Guftagu.git
# Install dependencies
cd Guftagu
npm install
# Start Expo development server
npx expo startAcademic Project — SZABIST University, Karachi
- GitHub Repository: github.com/izhan77/Guftagu
- Supervisor: Muhammad Suleman
- Course: CSC-4101 Artificial Intelligence, Spring 2026
