Artificial intelligence is no longer science fiction—it’s part of everyday life. From classrooms to workplaces, AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini are being used by millions. But here’s the challenge: most people only interact with these systems as black boxes.
If we want to not just use AI, but to understand, customize, and innovate with it, we need tools that make AI tangible.
That’s why we created EchoKit — an open-source voice AI toolkit that makes learning AI as hands-on as building with LEGO.
What is EchoKit?
EchoKit is a open-source hardware and software toolkit for building and understanding modern AI voice agents.
- Out of the box, EchoKit is a functional voice AI device—a companion you can talk to immediately.
- But its real value lies in what’s inside: a modular hardware kit, open-source firmware, and an extensible AI server that together let you learn and experiment with every layer of the system.
With EchoKit, learners and educators can:
-
Explore modular hardware design, from microphones and speakers to ESP32-based processors.
-
Customize firmware written in Rust and re-flash the device to change how it behaves.
-
Run an AI server that connects to OpenAI, Gemini, or local open-source models for speech recognition, text generation, and voice synthesis.
-
Experiment with speech-to-text (ASR), large language models (LLMs), and text-to-speech (TTS) pipelines in a real system.
-
Build and integrate MCP tools (e.g., knowledge bases, search, or smart-home control) so that the AI agent can perform meaningful actions.
-
Learn how voice cloning, accents, and fine-tuned TTS models work, and try personalizing your own agent’s voice.
-
Set up local and private AI inference to understand how open-source models like Whisper and Llama can run on your own computer.
-
Follow structured guides that gradually explain AI concepts—from neural networks and embeddings to real-time systems—while encouraging experimentation.
In other words, EchoKit is not just a gadget—it is a practical curriculum in a box, designed to bring AI education to life.
Who is it For?
EchoKit is designed for a wide range of learners:
- Students — Gain hands-on experience with AI that goes far beyond using apps. Build systems, break them apart, and learn how they work.
- Teachers & Schools — Bring AI into the classroom with a platform that combines hardware, software, and clear documentation.
- Parents — Provide your children with a meaningful project that blends fun, creativity, and real technical skills.
- Technologists & Hobbyists — Experiment with AI voice agents as if they were Lego blocks. Modify, extend, and integrate EchoKit into your own projects.
- Entrepreneurs — Prototype AI-powered products quickly, on top of a fully customizable and open-source foundation.
Why It Matters
According to a 2025 Pew survey, over 80% of American students already use large language models (LLMs) for schoolwork. Yet few understand how these systems actually function.
As Nvidia’s Jensen Huang put it:
“You won’t lose your job to AI—you’ll lose your job to somebody who uses AI.”
We believe the future belongs to those who don’t just use AI, but who can build and shape it. EchoKit helps bridge that gap by making AI education hands-on, practical, and open-source.
Join Us on Indiegogo
EchoKit is more than a device—it’s a platform for learning, creating, and teaching AI in a way that is open, transparent, and fun.
We’re now in our prelaunch phase on Indiegogo. By joining, you’ll:
👉 Join our Discord server and be part of the journey to bring hands-on AI education to everyone.
