A new generation training program designed to empower youth with communication skills and resilience to help them defend themselves from online and verbal abuse announced its partnership with an AI and technology specialist this week.
Social Kung Fu 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.
The Social Kung Fu app will offer a revolutionary approach to tackling bullying and other social challenges in real-time and aims to provide young people with the tools they need to navigate challenges in and out of the classroom. Giving young people easy access to techniques and principles that equip them with personal protection, improve their self-esteem and become better communicators in their schools, workplaces and homes.
The development of the app has been managed with strict adherence to the Australian Student Wellbeing framework and meets the Australian Curriculum outcomes for General Capabilities. It’s informed by the latest psychological evidence-based research around adolescent mental health, as well as the hands-on experience from the brain behind Social Kung Fu’s inception, founder Matt Purcell, who has worked with hundreds of schools across Australia.
Tech specialists Devika partner with companies to bring ambitious digital projects to life and have an impressive list of collaborations with major brands, such as Westpac, Intel and Coachella, under their belt.
The collaboration between Social Kung Fu and Devika represents a new frontier in the integration of AI into mental health and educational technology. It’s also a significant leap forward for the fledgling app, which recently secured seed funding to accelerate the development of this next-generation educational tool.
Purcell told EducationDaily the app’s name “represents who we are”.
“While Kung Fu is a martial art, Social Kung Fu is about mastering the art of protecting and improving your identity and self-worth in the world today.”
He says that, by combining Social Kung Fu’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,” Purcell says.
“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.
Purcell says the integration of real-world situations and practical solutions helps the platform ensure that students are equipped to handle bullying, peer pressure, and other social challenges.
“We are excited to bring our technology and AI expertise to a project that has such immense potential to change the lives of young people,” Managing Director of Devika, Ken Kencevski, says.
“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.”
Purcell told EducationDaily that, “after running a youth centre, where we had hundreds of kids from all walks of life drop in and speaking to young people about their value and about understanding and responding to bullying across Australia, I gained some insights into what goes on in the lives of young people”.
“I realised that most bullying kids experience today isn’t physical, but verbal and virtual. Most of the time, you people who are bullied don’t need to know martial arts to defend themselves, rather, they need to learn skills in two key areas,” he says.
Two key areas for upskilling against bullying
- Verbal skills – since most attacks today are verbal
- Self-awareness – young people often lack the ability to critique themselves constructively.
“The Social Kung Fu app will provide scripts and principles to support and educate young people when it comes to handling challenging situations, from gossip to name-calling, helping kids defend themselves and turn the tables on bullies,” Purcell told EducationDaily.
He says following the steps outlined in the app and in the Social Kung Fu training program can equip young people with the necessary skills they need to deal with bullying.
“It’s like going from white belt to black belt in verbal self-defense,” Purcell told Educationdaily.
“The program also includes exercises that highlight kids’ strengths, weaknesses, and helps them identify and determine who they’re seeking approval from.
We’re also building an AI-powered ‘sensei’ – a private AI that students can use to input their text conversations or thoughts, which then analyses them and offers evidence-based advice on how to handle the situation. It’s a role-playing simulator that helps them prepare for real-life scenarios.”
Gamification is key
But while having access to the tools is one thing, ensuring young people have the confidence to utilise the tools is another.
Purcell says, “gamification is key”.
“Just providing information won’t engage kids. They don’t respond well to being preached at. They need to see progress, and the approach has to be in sync with their culture and day-to-day experiences.
“That’s why we’ve combined cultural relevance with a gamified system that lets kids experience progress and keep them motivated. The goal is to give them a mentor in their pocket who can help them through tough situations.”
Purcell is proud to be world-leading and says there is nothing else out there like Social Kung Fu – and he’s looking forward to seeing kids around the globe benefit.
“It’s an evidence-based, practical solution for youth, parents and teachers. To get similar guidance or support, you’d usually have to attend an in-person seminar. Our app makes it accessible and once we scale it, we plan to translate it into other languages to reach even more young people.”
