The intersection of artificial intelligence and childhood creativity is taking a practical, consumer-friendly form with new tools that reimagine how kids engage with art. Retro’s experimental app, Splat, offers a glimpse into this shift by using generative AI to transform everyday photos into printable or on-screen coloring pages—turning personal memories into hands-on creative experiences.
What distinguishes this approach is its emphasis on personalization. Rather than relying on generic, pre-designed illustrations, Splat allows parents and children to convert their own photos—or choose from curated, kid-friendly categories like animals, space, fairy tales, robots, and vehicles—into custom coloring pages. Users can further tailor the experience by selecting visual styles such as cartoon, comic, anime, manga, or 3D movie aesthetics, giving children a sense of ownership over the creative process from the start.
Beyond novelty, the app introduces subtle educational value. By converting full-color photographs into simplified line art, the AI performs a form of visual abstraction, breaking complex scenes into outlines and shapes that are easier to interpret and color. This mirrors foundational artistic techniques and can help children develop early skills in perception, pattern recognition, and creative interpretation—without feeling like structured instruction.
Splat’s design choices also reflect an awareness of parental concerns. The app avoids a traditional sign-up flow, instead guiding users through initial customization, such as selecting preferred content categories and choosing whether coloring happens on-screen or via printed pages. Access to purchases and settings is gated by a birth-year check, helping prevent accidental interactions by young children.
From a business and product standpoint, Splat balances experimentation with a clear monetization model. After trying a limited number of free generations, users can subscribe for $4.99 per week (up to 25 pages) or $49.99 per year (up to 500 pages). In brief testing, generation times were fast, making it easy to move from idea to printed page—an important detail for parents looking to fill short attention gaps without resorting to passive screen time.
More broadly, Splat fits into a growing category of generative AI applications designed to inspire creativity rather than optimize productivity. Alongside projects like AI-generated sticker kits or interactive robotic toys that develop personalities over time, it signals a shift toward emotionally resonant, playful uses of AI—especially for younger audiences.
At the same time, the rise of AI in children’s creative spaces raises important questions. Issues around data handling, aesthetic influence, and the long-term impact of AI-mediated play remain largely unexplored. As these tools become more common, developers and parents alike will need to consider how algorithmic creativity shapes children’s tastes, expectations, and creative confidence.
Still, the promise is significant. With thoughtful design, tools like Splat could make artistic expression more accessible, adaptive, and personal—particularly for children with different learning styles or abilities. Rather than replacing imagination, this new wave of AI aims to act as a quiet collaborator, helping children turn the familiar world around them into something they can color, reinterpret, and make their own.
This analysis is based on reporting from TechCrunch.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
This article was generated with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy and quality.
