Replace hard-coded question patterns with AI-based question detection

- Removed rigid pattern matching for 'was ist', 'was bedeutet', etc.
- Added intelligent AI-based question detection using GPT-4o-mini
- Server now analyzes child responses to determine if they're asking questions
- More flexible and natural - can handle any way children might ask questions
- Falls back gracefully if AI detection fails
- Maintains all existing functionality while being much more adaptable

html/kidsai/script-new.js

@@ -717,18 +717,17 @@ class KidsAIExplorer {
             // If child has said "don't know" 2 or more times recently, OR asked a question then said don't know, they need help
             const needsExplanationDueToRepeatedDontKnow = recentDontKnowCount >= 2 || isAskingQuestionThenDontKnowStep;
 
-            // Check if child is asking for a definition or explanation
+            // Use AI to determine if child is asking for information/explanation
-            const isAskingForDefinition = answerLower.startsWith('was ist') || answerLower.startsWith('what is') || 
+            let isAskingForDefinition = false;
-                                        answerLower.includes('was bedeutet') || answerLower.includes('what does') ||
+            
-                                        answerLower.includes('was heißt') || answerLower.includes('what means') ||
+            // Quick check: if it contains a question mark and isn't just expressing uncertainty
-                                        answerLower.includes('was hat') || answerLower.includes('what has') ||
+            if (answer.includes('?') && !isPureDontKnow && !isExpressingConfusion) {
-                                        answerLower.includes('wo ist') || answerLower.includes('where is') ||
+                isAskingForDefinition = true;
-                                        answerLower.includes('wo sind') || answerLower.includes('where are') ||
+            } else {
-                                        answerLower.includes('wie funktioniert') || answerLower.includes('how does') ||
+                // For non-obvious cases, we'll let the AI determine this in the server response
-                                        answerLower.includes('warum ist') || answerLower.includes('why is') ||
+                // The server can detect question patterns better than hard-coded rules
-                                        answerLower.includes('was passiert') || answerLower.includes('what happens') ||
+                isAskingForDefinition = false;
-                                        answerLower.includes('was geschieht') || answerLower.includes('what occurs') ||
+            }
-                                        (answerLower.includes('?') && (answerLower.includes('ist ein') || answerLower.includes('is a')));
             
             let response;
 

html/kidsai/server.js

@@ -779,6 +779,114 @@ Give a simple, understandable explanation for children. Use everyday examples. E
             }
         }
         
+        // Use AI to intelligently detect if child is asking a question that needs a direct answer
+        if (process.env.OPENAI_API_KEY && !isDontKnowResponse && context !== 'repeated_dont_know') {
+            console.log('🤖 Using AI to analyze if child is asking a question...');
+            
+            try {
+                const questionDetectionPrompt = isGerman ?
+                    `Analysiere diese Antwort eines Kindes: "${answer}"
+
+Kontext: Das Kind wurde gefragt: "${question}"
+
+Bestimme: Stellt das Kind eine direkte Frage, die eine Erklärung braucht?
+
+Beispiele für JA:
+- "Was passiert denn da?"
+- "Wie geht das?"
+- "Warum ist das so?"
+- "Was bedeutet das?"
+- "Wo ist das?"
+
+Beispiele für NEIN:
+- "Ich weiß nicht"
+- "Vielleicht wegen der Temperatur"
+- "Ist es wegen dem Wetter?"
+- "Hmm, keine Ahnung"
+
+Antworte nur mit "JA" oder "NEIN".` :
+                    `Analyze this child's response: "${answer}"
+
+Context: The child was asked: "${question}"
+
+Determine: Is the child asking a direct question that needs an explanation?
+
+Examples of YES:
+- "What happens there?"
+- "How does that work?"
+- "Why is that?"
+- "What does that mean?"
+- "Where is that?"
+
+Examples of NO:
+- "I don't know"
+- "Maybe because of temperature"
+- "Is it because of weather?"
+- "Hmm, no idea"
+
+Reply only with "YES" or "NO".`;
+
+                const detectionCompletion = await openai.chat.completions.create({
+                    model: "gpt-4o-mini",
+                    messages: [
+                        {
+                            role: "system",
+                            content: questionDetectionPrompt
+                        }
+                    ],
+                    max_tokens: 10,
+                    temperature: 0.1
+                });
+
+                const detectionResult = detectionCompletion.choices[0]?.message?.content?.trim().toUpperCase();
+                console.log(`🔍 AI question detection result: "${detectionResult}"`);
+                
+                if (detectionResult === 'JA' || detectionResult === 'YES') {
+                    console.log('📤 AI detected a question - providing explanation');
+                    
+                    const explanationPrompt = isGerman ?
+                        `Das Kind stellt eine direkte Frage und braucht eine Erklärung.
+
+KIND'S FRAGE: "${answer}"
+KONTEXT: Wir haben über "${originalTopic || question}" gesprochen
+
+Gib eine klare, kindgerechte Antwort. Verwende einfache Sprache und Beispiele. Lade das Kind ein, mehr zu fragen oder selbst zu experimentieren. Beantworte die spezifische Frage des Kindes direkt.` :
+                        `The child is asking a direct question and needs an explanation.
+
+CHILD'S QUESTION: "${answer}"
+CONTEXT: We were discussing "${originalTopic || question}"
+
+Give a clear, child-friendly answer. Use simple language and examples. Invite the child to ask more or experiment themselves. Answer the child's specific question directly.`;
+
+                    const explanationCompletion = await openai.chat.completions.create({
+                        model: "gpt-4o-mini",
+                        messages: [
+                            {
+                                role: "system",
+                                content: explanationPrompt
+                            }
+                        ],
+                        max_tokens: 300,
+                        temperature: 0.6
+                    });
+
+                    const explanationResponse = explanationCompletion.choices[0]?.message?.content?.trim();
+                    
+                    if (explanationResponse && explanationResponse.length > 10) {
+                        console.log('✅ AI-detected question explanation generated successfully');
+                        return res.json({
+                            success: true,
+                            response: explanationResponse,
+                            source: 'OpenAI GPT-4o-mini (AI-Detected Question)'
+                        });
+                    }
+                }
+            } catch (aiError) {
+                console.log('❌ AI question detection error:', aiError.message);
+                // Continue with normal flow if AI detection fails
+            }
+        }
+        
         const contextualPrompt = isGerman ? 
             `Du bist ein Socratic Lernbegleiter für Kinder. Ein Kind hat gerade auf eine Frage geantwortet.