During the Chatty Check gameplay, AI models analyse how a child responds, including language use, comprehension, and interaction patterns.
Every time Hamdan Al-Ali spoke about his startup Chatty Check, he noticed a similar reaction. Parents would wait and then approach him privately. Some already knew their child had a language disorder, while others were uncertain but worried. Nearly all asked the same question: can it be detected earlier?
“Parents come up to me sharing their concerns, either knowing their child has a language disorder or suspecting early signs of delay,” Al-Ali told. “That combination—the scale of the need and the openness from parents—has been both humbling and motivating.”
So he developed a solution. Potion AI, co-founded with natural language processing specialist Dr Hanan Aldarmaki during Al-Ali’s PhD at Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, created Chatty Check—a tablet-based game that screens children aged three to five for early signs of developmental language disorder in about 15 minutes.
The scale of the issue is significant. A peer-reviewed scoping review found that nearly 1 in 10 three-year-olds in the UAE show signs of developmental language disorder.
The condition affects how children understand and use language, which can later lead to academic difficulties, social isolation, and long-term disadvantages if not identified early.
Chatty Check is grounded in clinical practice. Al-Ali and Aldarmaki collaborated with speech-language pathologists at Speech Care Centre to observe how specialists assess children, then adapted those methods into short, interactive tablet-based tasks.
During gameplay, AI models evaluate how a child responds, including language use, comprehension, and interaction patterns, and compare the results against developmental benchmarks. Parents are then given a screening outcome, along with recommendations to consult a specialist if needed.
“We worked closely with speech-language pathologists to understand how traditional screening sessions are conducted, the types of activities they use, and what each activity is designed to assess,” Al-Ali told. “From there, we translated those evidence-based methods into interactive game experiences that feel natural and engaging for children.”
The distinction between screening and diagnosis is central to how Potion positions the product. Chatty Check is not intended to replace clinical assessment. Instead, Potion collects data, benchmarks results against clinical standards, and is working toward peer-reviewed publication before making formal accuracy claims. This cautious approach stands out in a consumer health app market that often tends to overstate its capabilities.
The platform was developed through MBZUAI’s Incubation and Entrepreneurship Centre, with additional support from Ma’an, the Abu Dhabi Authority of Social Contribution. Ethical approvals were also obtained from MBZUAI’s Institutional Review Board and the Abu Dhabi Department of Health.
Building in the UAE also addressed a specific clinical gap. A shortage of validated Arabic-language assessment tools means many specialists often rely on informal methods, increasing the risk of delayed or missed identification in Arabic-speaking children.
Chatty Check was designed with both Arabic and English support from the outset, with additional languages in development as Potion expands beyond the UAE. The product also includes a local cultural element, with Potion’s wider catalogue featuring Emirati Tales—games aimed at integrating cultural identity into early childhood learning.
“Building Potion in the UAE was both a personal and strategic choice,” Al-Ali told. “I’m proud to contribute to my country and give back to a community that has invested heavily in innovation and talent, while also addressing a challenge that is genuinely felt here.”
Chatty Check is currently being piloted in nurseries across the UAE, with peer-reviewed clinical validation identified as the next key milestone.
