This is a text version of a project I created about this topic for those who prefer reading it in a single post. To view the project, click here.


Scratch 4.0 and AI


Background
In case you haven't heard yet, artificial intelligence (AI) is coming to Scratch in the all-new Scratch 4.0. We've known about 4.0 and AI since 2024, through job listing on the Scratch Foundation's website:

Since its creation at the MIT Media Lab in 2007, Scratch use has grown dramatically. More than 130,000,000 people from every country in the world have created more than a billion Scratch projects. In 2025, we’re responding to this growth by focusing on three strategic priorities: developing the new Scratch 4.0, with a re-imagined online community and creative AI; amplifying the impact of Scratch through our programs and research; and developing a robust business model to ensure a sustainable future for the software and the Foundation.

But what does this actually mean? What sort of AI is coming to Scratch?


Motives & Beliefs
Back in 2023, Scratch Team member and Director of Scratch Lab, @ericr posted on the Scratch Team's blog site, medium:

Because of the many challenges with AI image generation, we won’t be including it in Scratch any time soon, even on our Scratch Lab site.

The post, which you can find here, explains some early play-testing with AI, such as generating sprites and costumes. Here is a video example of this AI in action:

Click the image to view the video.

However, the Scratch Team discovered that besides the benefit of bringing an idea to life, there were some pitfalls. Namely, bias, inappropriate content, credit/copyright, and cost/access. Due to these challenges, generative AI is not coming to Scratch.


In 2023, one of Scratch's founders, @mres, also posted on medium:

Some uses of generative AI systems will constrain learner agency, focus on “close-ended” problems, or undervalue human connection and community — and further entrench existing approaches to education and learning at a time when change is needed.
…
But it is also possible to use generative AI technologies to support a more project-based, interest-driven, human-centered, collaborative approach to learning, enabling learners to develop the motivation, creativity, and curiosity that they will need to thrive in today’s complex, fast-changing world.

The post, which you can find here, examples the motives behind AI in coding, particularly the ethics. Although heavy reliance on AI is certainly not good, using it in controlled ways can foster creativity.

Okay, so now we have a background on the beliefs behind AI. So, what type of AI is coming to Scratch? Introduce the…


Creative Learning Assistant
The Creative Learning Assistant (CLA) was also highlighted in a blog post on medium in July 2025:

We’re excited to announce the upcoming Creative Learning Assistant (CLA), a new, opt-in feature designed to support children as they learn and create with Scratch. The CLA offers help only when asked, guiding young creators through moments of curiosity and uncertainty while prioritizing their agency. Beyond assistance, it reimagines search and discovery as a dynamic, social, and reflective experience that surfaces surprising ideas, enables personalized exploration, and amplifies peer connection. With the CLA, every child can find the right inspiration at the right time for them.

Here's an idea of how the CLA would work:

Imagine a child who loves to dance, stuck wondering how others sync up their animations to music in Scratch. Our CLA can break her question down into manageable steps that guide her to learn from her peers in the community. It may start by recommending she check out a dance party animation made by a fellow Scratcher. Then, it could prompt her to open the project’s code and explore the scripts that help the characters move in time to the beat. Once she’s improved her timing, the CLA could congratulate her and suggest that she leave a comment to thank the Scratcher who taught her something new.

What was previously a frustrating, solitary roadblock transforms into a guided, social, and reflective experience.

So, essentially the CLA is a fancy assistant that guides you in the right direction.

During the 2025 Scratch Conference, the Scratch Team shared a live demo of the CLA in action during their “Scratch + AI” special session. The following images are screenshots from the Conference.

Note: All images below were from the 2025 Scratch Conference. I did not attend the Conference, but someone I know did and was willing to share the screenshots with me; the Scratch Team confirmed it is okay to share the screenshots publicly on Scratch. Please remember that these images show features still in development and may not be the final versions.

Update - August 13, 2025: The Scratch Team has publicly released the recordings of the Conference. The “Scratch + AI” session (where the screenshots/info about the CLA is coming from) can be viewed here.

A sketch by mres.

A prototype of the AI chatbot in the Scratch editor.

The CLA in action, recommending project ideas.

The CLA in action, recommending costumes/sprites.

The CLA in action, providing assistance with code.

The CLA in action, helping transcribe and translate a project from Japanese into English.

The CLA in action, helping to break down complex code.

What's Next?
So far, that's all the information we have about the CLA. We don't have an exact date for its release, but there is speculation from a Scratch Foundation member that the second half of 2026 is the target release date for Scratch 4.0 (and the CLA).

We also don't know whether there will be any other features added in 4.0 besides the CLA. However, we do know that Face Sensing blocks, introduced in Scratch Lab in 2021 will be coming this fall! These blocks use AI and allow you to insert yourself into projects; all data/images are private and arenot shared publicly. It's unclear whether Animated Text blocks, also introduced in 2021, will be added.


Conclusion
That's all the info we have! Hopefully this clears up any confusion or concerns about what type of AI is coming to Scratch.

Thanks to @mrsrec and their project for inspiring mine and this forum post. If you'd like a project version of this post, see this project.

If you have any suggestions or constructive feedback about the topic/project itself, feel free to leave it here. Please keep discussion on whether you agree with AI or other unrelated topics to a project or studio, rather than cluttering up this discussion space.

Finally, please remember everything in this post is subject to change and may not be what the final version looks like.

Great post!

You made a typo in What's Next by the way.

what is a Catbot?

Hmm, this helped me, even though I am very well-versed in this topic. Thanks!

Bump

Wait, I thought the ai was just going to be something that helps make code, so you could ask it to code something and it would. I didn't realize it was image generation

I have a few concerns with this new ‘AI scratch’. I'm not trying to be critical or mean, but I just think these are things the ST should look out for.
first, Is it really ‘creative AI’ if it's not the user's own creativity, and scratch is meant to be based off the user's creativity?
secondly, it a good idea from a social point of view? it means people don't have to talk to each other and don't build proper friendships, because they can just use AI.
Thirdly, I think this will likely lower the learning qualities of scratch. users will be able to use AI to basically do many of the tasks that require the user to think hard, and will make making a complex project less satisfying, and not as much ‘their work.’
Fourth, is it safe to have a chatbot on a website with users under 13? many studies have shown that AI can generate harmful or unsafe content, that older users may be able to use discernment to avoid and screen, but younger users might not be able to.
Fifth, if it breaks down complex code into smaller chunks so it's easier to understand, this makes the skill set that scratch is trying to develop defunct.

In all, I think that although it may be useful, it will mean the very qualities scratch is trying to teach do not have to be learnt in order to create things.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! IT WILL BE ANNOUNCED NEXT MONTH ON DAY 30!!!!!

Noahsantos2024 wrote:

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! IT WILL BE ANNOUNCED NEXT MONTH ON DAY 30!!!!!

Um don't you mean Feb 30

Animator-3X wrote:

Noahsantos2024 wrote:

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! IT WILL BE ANNOUNCED NEXT MONTH ON DAY 30!!!!!

Um don't you mean Feb 30

there are only 28 days in February…

NO! no, no, no! Not AI

Well then this won't be much use to many of us