"Wait — you can actually build a computer yourself?" That mix of surprise and curiosity set the tone for our PC-building workshop on Saturday, April 11. Three children joined us for the day, and together we assembled an AI PC from individual components — hardware that represents the very top of what is currently available.
Here's what went into the build:
| CPU | Intel Core Ultra 9 285 (latest generation, with on-chip AI acceleration) |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 (current flagship graphics card) |
| RAM | 128 GB |
| SSD | 2 TB |
The questions came immediately: "Can this run any game?" "Which part actually runs the AI?" We explained each component in simple terms — the CPU as the brain, the GPU as a specialist processor for AI and graphics, the RAM as the size of the workspace — and when we described just how powerful this particular setup was, one child summed it up perfectly: "So this PC is basically a genius!"
The assembly itself was careful, methodical work, with staff supporting each step. Seating the CPU, slotting in the memory sticks, maneuvering the enormous RTX 5090 into the case — the children were understandably cautious at first, but once a screwdriver was in hand, the concentration on their faces was remarkable.
Then came the moment of truth: power on. The fans spun up — but the monitor stayed dark.
That unexpected problem turned out to be the most valuable part of the day. The children experienced firsthand how engineers actually think when something doesn't work: stay calm, form a hypothesis, test it, and narrow down the cause. Rather than seeing an error as a failure, they learned to treat it as information. That problem-solving mindset — methodical, curious, undeterred — is something no textbook can fully teach.
With the AI PC running, the children stood a little taller. "I want to try running a real AI on this next time," one of them said — proof that building something with your own hands is one of the most powerful motivators for wanting to learn more.
Digital Kodomo BASE will continue to host hands-on workshops like this. Follow our homepage and social media for upcoming dates, and if you'd like to support this kind of experience for more children, donations are always welcome.