# ELLA: Generative AI-Powered Social Robots for Early Language Development at Home

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.12508 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2603.12508/

## Key facts

- No citing papers in the map yet (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 6 of its 69 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 12 Mar 2026.

## Builds on (most cited first, 6 of 6)

- [Generative Expressive Robot Behaviors using Large Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2401.14673/) (2024)
- [Mathemyths: Leveraging Large Language Models to Teach Mathematical Language through Child-AI Co-Creative Storytelling](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2402.01927/) (2024)
- [The Unboxing Experience: Exploration and Design of Initial Interactions Between Children and Social Robots](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2202.08406/) (2022)
- [Understanding Factors that Shape Children's Long Term Engagement with an In-Home Learning Companion Robot](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2205.09052/) (2022)
- [Family Theories in Child-Robot Interactions: Understanding Families as a Whole for Child-Robot Interaction Design](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2305.02723/) (2023)
- [Reframing Conversational Design in HRI: Deliberate Design with AI Scaffolds](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2601.12084/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Early language development shapes children's later literacy and learning, yet many families have limited access to scalable, high-quality support at home. Recent advances in generative AI make it possible for social robots to move beyond scripted interactions and engage children in adaptive, conversational activities, but it remains unclear how to design such systems for pre-schoolers and how children engage with them over time in the home. We present ELLA (Early Language Learning Agent), an autonomous, generative AI-powered social robot that supports early language development through interactive storytelling, parent-selected language targets, and scaffolded dialogue. Using a multi-phased, human-centered process, we interviewed parents (n=7) and educators (n=5) and iteratively refined ELLA through twelve in-home design workshops. We then deployed ELLA with ten children for eight days. We report design insights from in-home workshops, characterize children's engagement and behaviors during deployment, and distill design implications for generative AI-powered social robots supporting early language learning at home.