Ann Arbor Times

Google Public Sector, in collaboration with the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, has introduced a Virtual Teaching Assistant pilot program. This program, utilizing Google's Gemini chatbot, aims to enhance personalized learning and provide insights into the application of artificial intelligence in education.

The Virtual Teaching Assistant offers 24/7 student support, encouraging self-driven learning and allowing instructors to adapt lessons and teaching strategies. It facilitates learning by offering on-demand clarification of complex topics, guiding problem-solving, and serving as a partner for practice. The tool refrains from providing direct answers, instead promoting critical thinking as students work toward solutions.

Implemented across several business courses at the University of Michigan and other institutions, the pilot program addresses areas such as financial technology, operations strategy, and analytics. Initial outcomes suggest increased student participation, with instructors gaining valuable insights into student learning behaviors.

The technology provides real-time data on student interactions, assisting instructors in refining course materials and responding to common student inquiries. "By partnering with Google Public Sector, we’re integrating today’s leading technology to improve the educational experience for our students," stated Jun Li, a technology and operations professor at Ross.

Insights from the pilot will inform a research initiative involving about 9,000 students across 72 courses at 26 schools. Co-led by Ross and Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, the study seeks to discern the positive effects of generative AI in higher education.

Li, alongside co-director Andrew Wu, emphasizes designing an adaptable AI tutor that fosters independent thought and engagement. She remarked, "Recent research indicates that using GenAI tools without guidance can negatively affect learning because they often give students easy or incorrect answers, preventing true understanding."

The study draws inspiration from U-M Maizey, a platform that facilitates academic advising and administrative tasks. Officials describe the initiative as one of the most significant AI deployments within the education sector, aiming to streamline AI adoption in higher education.

Chris Hein, CTO of Google Public Sector, highlighted their role in pioneering personalized learning approaches to improve educational delivery and advance the development of the future workforce. "The Virtual TA is a prime example of how a customizable, Gemini-powered solution can advance the future of learning and help train the next generation workforce."

Google Public Sector aids government agencies and educational institutions in pursuing digital transformation through advanced technology solutions.