How One Mom Used Vibe Coding to Build an AI Tutor for Her Dyslexic Son

Revolutionizing Education: How AI is Personalizing Learning for Students with Learning Differences

A dyslexia diagnosis was supposed to offer solutions for a boy named Tobey. His learning difference was first identified in a routine school screening and led to tutors, speech therapy, a neuropsychological evaluation, and a spot at a Manhattan school for kids with learning differences. But Tobey continued to struggle. One winter afternoon earlier this year, at age 11, he came home discouraged, says his mother, Arlyn Gajilan. Why, he asked, did she keep telling him he was smart? “‘I’m slower than everybody else. Why is it so hard for me?’” she recalls him asking. “That was like a gut punch,” she says.

Gajilan, who has worked at Reuters for more than 14 years and was then digital news director, had been reading about artificial intelligence and custom GPTs—tailored AI models that users could configure for specific tasks. After confirming her data would be private, she fed one of the models Tobey’s report cards, neuropsychological evaluations, and individualized education programs for his dyslexia. She also gave it his interests: dragons from the book series Wings of Fire, battles with Nerf guns, a song or two from Hamilton. She told the GPT he was bright and competitive but struggled with reading and writing, and she asked it to look for the best pedagogical approaches. “You are a special education teacher with expertise in teaching kids with dyslexia,” she recalls writing. “Your job is to help my son.” Then she handed Tobey the smartphone.

The decision wasn’t made lightly. Though she worked in technology, she didn’t let him use social media, and he didn’t have his own smartphone. “I’m very conscious of the harm that technology can do,” she says.

But the GPT provided a creative approach that surprised her. It helped him organize paragraph structure, topic sentences, and syntax in exercises that it turned into games related to his interests. “My kid is a little sassy,” she says, “so the AI was giving back as much sass as he was giving. It would respond with things like ‘Game on’ or ‘Is that the best you’ve got?’” After every session, Gajilan would tweak the GPT, telling it to increase the difficulty or asking it to explain how a recent lesson was pedagogically sound. Her experiences are just one example of the growing use of AI in educational tech—especially to create bespoke learning tools designed for the needs of individual students.

Vibe Coding a Solution

When Tobey first began using the GPT, he was skeptical. “I was like, ‘Could this really help me?’” he says. “But I was wrong. I can speak way more fluently and read more fluently, and I’m more confident with my math skills. I’m not doubting myself like I did before.” Gajilan checked in with his teacher, Jacinta Capelli, who’d noticed improvement over the course of several months. “Tobey demonstrated a notable increase in confidence,” Capelli recalls, though she couldn’t be sure that AI was the cause.

Encouraged, Gajilan began considering how she could make the GPT available to her son’s friends. She’d been a journalist her entire adult life covering tech and start-ups, and she had helped redesign the Reuters website and rebuild its app. “It wasn’t like I was coming at this purely from a Luddite space,” she says. “I knew what product requirements were, but I don’t know how to code.”

Vibe coding—the use of AI language models to write code—was increasingly in the news when Gajilan was thinking about how to develop an educational platform, and research suggests that it has quickly moved from novelty to norm. A 2025 ecosystem study from software company JetBrains reported that 85 percent of developers regularly use AI tools and 62 percent rely on at least one coding assistant, AI agent, or code editor. Unlike with actual coding, vibe coders write what they want built with AI in the same way that they might send a Slack message to an employee. The AI translates this into code, providing iterations until users have the results they want.

Gajilan began experimenting with different software. She’d made the custom teaching GPT in February, and during spring break, sitting at the kitchen table, she trained herself in the use of vibe coding tools. She aimed to build her platform based on principles drawn from 450 publicly available research papers on learning differences from dyslexia to ADHD. She designed a user dashboard and a questionnaire that asked new students about their motivations and struggles. This allowed the AI to build a learning profile with goals and a lesson plan that it could adapt depending on how users responded. By mid-June, she launched the beta version, and by July she had a dozen subscribers paying $29 a month, logging 30-minute sessions a few times a week.

During this process, she filed two patents for an algorithm she developed to detect when users become frustrated. “It looks at a variety of things: when a kid’s accuracy drops off, when it takes longer for them to respond and when they’re using key phrases like ‘I don’t know’ or ‘This is too hard,’” she says. When those factors combine, the system creates wellness breaks, guiding them through movements such as jumping jacks or mindfulness exercises. She also gamified the platform, which she and her son named Tobey’s Tutor. Tobey’s drawings helped inspire the designs of badges that kids can earn for completing different levels.

Parents can log into the dashboard, see what their child is working on, the lesson plan, and its rationale. The lessons are original; nothing is off‑the‑shelf, photocopied, or reused. There are no worksheets, just exercises sized to fit a particular brain. With the power of AI and vibe coding, Gajilan is revolutionizing education and personalizing learning for students with learning differences. AI in Education

Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and research is showing their effectiveness in the field of education. A recent study in 2023, although not peer-reviewed, demonstrated a significant improvement in the state math test scores of seventh-grade students in North Carolina who utilized an AI educational tool. The benefits of using AI in education were still evident even a year later. Additionally, a comprehensive review of classroom trials in 2025 found that AI implementation often resulted in enhanced learning outcomes.

Scott Gaynor, the head of the Stephen Gaynor School in Manhattan, has been closely monitoring the advancements in AI technology and the development of platforms like Gajilan’s. He believes that such platforms could be instrumental in motivating students who may lack interest in traditional learning methods. Factors such as low standardized test scores, with only 22 percent of 12th graders achieving proficiency levels in math in 2024, have been attributed to various issues such as pandemic-related learning loss, math anxiety, and a general lack of interest in the subject. Gaynor asserts that AI platforms like Tobey’s Tutor could address these challenges by generating high-interest, personalized questions for students based on their individual interests. This tailored approach can effectively engage students in their learning process, leading to improved academic performance.

Tobey, a student at the Stephen Gaynor School, appreciates how the AI technology in Tobey’s Tutor presents him with new and engaging exercises. He notes that the incorporation of his interests into math problems and reading assignments makes learning more enjoyable and meaningful. By utilizing AI to create dynamic and personalized learning experiences, Tobey’s Tutor caters to each student’s unique preferences and learning style, fostering a more engaging and effective educational environment.

The integration of AI tools in education is gaining momentum across various schools and educational platforms. Public schools in Newark, N.J., have adopted the AI-powered Amira Learning platform to assist children in improving their reading skills. Similarly, NWEA’s MAP Reading Fluency platform, utilized by over 2,000 school districts nationwide, now features an AI “coach” that provides personalized reading coaching based on individual assessment results. Other tech giants like Google and Microsoft have also introduced AI learning aids such as Read Along in Classroom, Reading Coach, and Math Progress to support student learning and skill development. Stanford University’s Rapid Online Assessment of Reading (ROAR) platform and Dystech’s AI-powered tools further contribute to addressing individual learning differences and enhancing educational outcomes.

The implementation of AI tools in education comes at a time when many schools are facing challenges in filling teaching vacancies, particularly in specialized areas such as ESL, bilingual education, and special education. With a shortage of fully certified teachers in these critical areas, AI-powered platforms like Tobey’s Tutor offer a valuable resource for delivering personalized and expert instruction to students with diverse learning needs. Gaynor emphasizes the potential of AI technology to level the playing field for students with learning differences, providing them with tailored support and guidance to enhance their academic success.

Just Keep Plugging Away

For Gajilan, the creator of Tobey’s Tutor, witnessing Tobey’s enthusiasm and growing confidence served as validation for her decision to develop the platform. Beyond the academic challenges her son faced, Gajilan was deeply troubled by his belief that he was not capable of overcoming those obstacles. The platform’s ability to engage Tobey in learning and boost his self-confidence reinforced Gajilan’s commitment to empowering students through AI technology.

Gajilan’s journey in developing Tobey’s Tutor has been transformative, leading her to a new role as a global editor for AI development and integration at Reuters. Through her passion project, she gained profound insights into the transformative potential of AI in revolutionizing industries, including the field of education. The impact of AI on her own professional trajectory parallels the positive outcomes observed in Tobey’s learning journey, highlighting the far-reaching implications of AI technology in shaping the future of work and learning.

Lessons learned from Tobey’s Tutor have not only benefited Tobey but have also resonated with Gajilan in her personal life. A simple yet profound insight shared by Tobey – to keep plugging away and persist in solving problems – serves as a reminder of the resilience and determination fostered by the platform. As Gajilan navigates the challenges of everyday life, she draws inspiration from Tobey’s perseverance and the transformative power of AI technology in facilitating growth and learning.

In conclusion, the integration of AI in education holds immense promise for enhancing learning outcomes, fostering individualized instruction, and addressing the diverse needs of students. Platforms like Tobey’s Tutor exemplify the potential of AI technology to revolutionize the educational landscape, empowering students to embrace learning with enthusiasm and confidence. As AI continues to evolve and expand its capabilities, the future of education is poised to be shaped by innovative tools that prioritize personalized learning experiences and student success. As we enter a new era of technological advancements, the possibilities seem endless. From artificial intelligence to augmented reality, the way we interact with the world around us is rapidly changing. One of the most exciting developments in this realm is the rise of virtual reality (VR) technology.

Virtual reality is a simulated experience that can be similar to or completely different from the real world. Using a headset or other devices, users are transported to a digital environment where they can interact with objects, people, and surroundings in a way that feels incredibly real. This immersive experience has the potential to revolutionize multiple industries, from gaming and entertainment to education and healthcare.

In the gaming industry, VR technology has already made a huge impact. Players can now step into their favorite virtual worlds and experience games in a whole new way. From shooting zombies in a post-apocalyptic wasteland to exploring ancient ruins in a fantasy realm, the possibilities are endless. The level of immersion provided by VR technology creates a truly unforgettable gaming experience that is unlike anything else.

But the potential of VR technology goes far beyond just entertainment. In the field of education, VR can be used to create immersive learning experiences that engage students in ways that traditional methods cannot. Imagine being able to explore the surface of Mars, walk through the streets of ancient Rome, or dive deep into the ocean without ever leaving the classroom. With VR technology, these experiences are now possible, opening up new opportunities for experiential learning and enhancing the educational process.

In the healthcare industry, VR technology is being used to revolutionize the way medical professionals train and treat patients. Surgeons can now practice complex procedures in a virtual environment before ever stepping foot in an operating room, improving their skills and reducing the risk of errors during surgery. Patients suffering from chronic pain or mental health disorders can also benefit from VR therapy, which has been shown to reduce pain and anxiety levels by providing a distraction from the real world.

As VR technology continues to evolve, the possibilities for its applications are endless. From training simulations and virtual tours to therapy sessions and architectural design, the potential of VR technology to transform industries is truly limitless. As we continue to explore the capabilities of this groundbreaking technology, one thing is certain – the future of virtual reality is bright.