Koji: The AI Tutor That Actually Makes You Smarter

A kid-friendly guide to the new AI tutor from Brilliant that’s designed to help you think — not just give you answers.

What is Koji?

Koji is an AI tutor built by Brilliant.org (the same people who make excellent interactive courses in math, science, and computer science).

Unlike most AI tools (like ChatGPT or regular Grok) that just give you the answer when you ask a question, Koji is built to do the opposite: it forces you to do the thinking.

Real Tutor Behavior

It watches what you're doing in real time. It points at things on the screen, sketches diagrams, and annotates — just like a great human tutor sitting next to you.

Built by Real Experts

Koji was trained with help from learning experts at MIT and Harvard. The goal isn't to make homework easier — it's to make your brain stronger.

Fights the "AI Makes You Dumber" Problem

Right now, a lot of kids are using AI to cheat or avoid thinking. Koji is deliberately designed to push back against that.

Why This Matters for Your Education

The big problem right now is this:

Many American kids are falling behind in reading and math.
Parents often think their kids are doing better than they actually are.
Schools are sometimes lowering standards instead of raising them.
AI tools are making it easier than ever to avoid real learning.

Koji’s philosophy is simple but powerful:

The most valuable skill in the AI age is not using AI to do your thinking for you — it’s using AI to get dramatically better at thinking yourself.

They believe the best way to do this (especially for young people) is through math and coding, because those subjects force you to build real problem-solving muscles.

How to Actually Use Koji Well (For Kids & Parents)

1. Treat it like a tutor, not a homework machine

Don’t ask Koji to solve the problem for you. Instead, work through problems with it. Let it guide you when you’re stuck.

2. Use it for deliberate practice

The goal isn’t to finish assignments faster. The goal is to get better at thinking. Slow down and struggle on purpose.

3. Focus on understanding, not just answers

If Koji explains something, don’t just nod and move on. Try to explain it back in your own words (even out loud).

4. Combine it with other tools

Use Koji for deep thinking practice, then use other AI tools (like Grok or Claude) for research, writing help, or exploring ideas.

How This Connects to What We’re Building Here

This website (mikesblogdesign.com) is basically Mike’s version of a “second brain” — a place where he captures ideas, experiments, and lessons so he can get better over time.

Koji is trying to do something similar for kids: help you build strong mental muscles instead of outsourcing your brain.

The same principles apply whether you're 12 or 42:

Use AI as a thinking partner, not a replacement.
Focus on getting better at hard things (math, coding, clear writing, systems thinking).
Build your own systems for learning and remembering (like this website does).

Free Access This Summer

Brilliant is offering free access to Koji this summer for the next 1,000 learners who sign up.

If you're a kid (or parent of one) who wants to get better at thinking instead of just getting better grades, this is worth trying.

How to Get Started with Koji

Here’s the simple way to begin:

Go to Brilliant.org and look for Koji (or search for “Koji Brilliant”).
Sign up — they’re currently giving free access to the first 1,000 learners this summer.
Start with math or coding — these are the subjects Koji is especially good at for building real thinking skills.
Work with it like a real tutor, not like a magic answer machine. Let it guide you when you’re stuck instead of asking it to solve everything.
Be patient with yourself. The point isn’t to go fast — it’s to get better at thinking hard problems through.

Pro tip for parents: Sit with your kid the first few times. Ask them to explain what Koji is having them do. This turns it from “just another app” into a real learning conversation.

Want to explore more ways to use AI for real learning (instead of cheating)?

Browse the AI Category →

Also check out our guide on Grok Build + Worktrees — how we actually use AI tools thoughtfully while building this site.