In a recent announcement, leading online learning platform edX has unveiled two cutting-edge AI-powered products, namely the edX plugin for ChatGPT and edX Xpert, an AI learning assistant available on the edX platform. Developed in collaboration with AI company OpenAI, these tools aim to provide timely learning support and help students discover suitable courses.
In July 2021, edX was acquired by 2U, a publicly traded higher education services company, for $800 million. Christopher “Chip” Paucek, Co-founder and CEO of 2U, stated, “By harnessing the intelligence and adaptability of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, we are creating a more personalized and engaging learning experience, empowering learners to achieve better academic and career outcomes. Today’s product launch is just the first of many innovative products edX is developing to harness the potential of generative AI, including new edX platform features for education programs related to artificial intelligence.”
The ChatGPT plugin by edX is available for ChatGPT Plus users. It seamlessly enables users to discover relevant learning materials within edX’s library of 4,200 courses. When users interact with ChatGPT on topics of interest, the plugin provides immediate course recommendations, learning content, videos, and related quizzes. It also offers direct links to courses on edX.org.
On the other hand, edX Xpert is an AI learning assistant integrated into the edX platform. Leveraging the ChatGPT API, Xpert delivers real-time and personalized academic and customer support to learners. Trained to provide friendly and intelligent conversation support across a range of learner needs, Xpert collaborates with edX’s career coaches, student success managers, mentors, and 24/7 real-time technical support experts. It offers additional real-time interactive guidance and more. Drawing from the breadth and depth of information from thousands of educational products in edX’s content portfolio, as well as millions of learner interactions in edX learner support products, Xpert provides comprehensive assistance.
Currently in the pilot phase, Xpert will roll out new features in stages, including:
Academic Assistance: Xpert will provide personalized course and assignment support to learners. Learners can request Xpert to break down complex concepts from course materials, answer follow-up questions, recommend additional learning modules, and test learners to help assess their understanding.
Course Discovery: As a guide and partner, Xpert will assist learners in finding learning methods that align with their career goals and educational background. Taking into account learners’ prior experience and desired course length, Xpert will help match learners with the most suitable course options.
Customer Service: Xpert’s customer service feature will provide immediate, specific advice and step-by-step solutions to help students overcome any technical barriers encountered while learning on the edX platform.
Course Content Summaries: Xpert will be able to generate concise and informative summaries of video lectures and textual materials in the courses. This enables learners to quickly identify relevant content for learning, reviewing, or reinforcing concepts, maximizing their time spent on the platform. Currently, this feature has been launched in the first MOOC project on edX.
Anant Agarwal, Chief Platform Officer of 2U and founder of edX, stated, “We see a tremendous surge in learners’ interest in artificial intelligence. It is evident that leveraging AI to build advanced features and provide learners with a more personalized experience will have a significant impact on maximizing the learning effectiveness of the edX platform. We look forward to continuing to unleash the potential of AI to transform our work and learning methods.”
