Sydney, Australia – December 3, 2024 – Social Kung Fu (SKF) – a new generation training program designed to empower youth with communication skills and resilience to help them defend themselves from online and verbal abuse, is today announcing its partnership with AI and technology specialist, Devika. Working together SKF and Devika are developing the world’s first closed AI-driven anti-bullying mobile app.
The closed AI-powered app is being developed for students, teachers, parents and the education system. It aims to transform the way students build mental well-being, resilience, emotional intelligence online, and communication skills, offering a revolutionary approach to tackling bullying and other social challenges in real-time and providing them with the tools they need to navigate challenges in and out of the classroom.
The collaboration represents a significant leap forward for SKF, which recently secured seed funding to accelerate the development of this next-generation educational tool.
According to SKF founder, Matt Purcell, by combining SKF’s expertise in adolescent mental health with Devika’s industry leading AI, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mobile application development capabilities, the partnership aims to deliver a personalised, gamified training experience designed to support users’ verbal resilience and emotional intelligence.
“Creating meaningful, lasting change in youth resilience requires more than just theoretical knowledge—it has to be dynamic, engaging, and rooted in real-world applicability,” said Matt.
“By partnering with Devika, we are gaining a technological edge, and working together, we are creating an entirely new kind of anti-bullying training experience—one that’s both immersive and evidence-based.”
Devika’s expertise in developing innovative AI and immersive technologies, such as VR and AR, aligns perfectly with Social Kung Fu’s vision of using technology to drive impactful social change. With a history of successful collaborations with industry giants like Intel, Westpac, and Coachella, Devika has demonstrated a proven ability to turn ambitious projects into high-quality digital products.
The AI-powered app will offer interactive, scenario-based exercises and personalised learning paths, making it an invaluable resource for both students and educators. Designed
to complement existing school programs, the app will help students build essential life skills, such as emotional regulation, conflict resolution, and positive self-expression. By integrating real-world situations and practical solutions, the platform ensures that students are equipped to handle bullying, peer pressure, and other social challenges.
“We are excited to bring our technology & AI expertise to a project that has such immense potential to change the lives of young people,” said Ken Kencevski, Managing Director of Devika.
“The application of AI in mental health and well-being is an area we’re excited to explore further, and this collaboration with Matt and the SKF team strongly aligns with Devika’s values to continue pushing boundaries to positively affect people & the planet.”
By combining AI’s adaptive learning capabilities with SKF’s data-backed mental health frameworks, the new mobile app and learning management system will offer users tailored, interactive content designed to improve resilience, self-regulation, and communication skills. Real-life scenarios, tailored exercises, and gamified learning paths will be used to support users, helping to build confidence and better manage adversity, both online and offline.
As part of the project’s broader goal, SKF and Devika will also ensure the platform meets the highest standards of accessibility, equity, and effectiveness, making it a valuable tool for schools, parents, and communities.
The collaboration between Social Kung Fu and Devika represents a new frontier in the integration of AI into mental health and educational technology. This partnership aims to set a new benchmark for how technology can be used to tackle complex social issues like bullying while simultaneously promoting the emotional well-being of young people.
