Artificial intelligence used to motivate students to learn

The Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest launched on Wednesday the SARO pilot project - the first program that uses artificial intelligence to motivate students to learn.

Developed by Digital Nation with the support of Google, SARO aims to change the way young people learn by increasing engagement and interest.

Paul Apostol, founder of Digital Nation, explained to RRA reporter Felicia Mocanu what it's all about.

Paul Apostol: We're trying to bring a personalized assistant for students in ASE and for students in schools in Romania, which could play a bridging role between teacher and student, because it's very hard for us to understand each one's needs and particularities. AI can help bring us closer, in that we can have personalized conversations with such an assistant, namely SARO, in which a thousand students will benefit from a personalized learning coach, who will focus on motivation. So he won't teach, he won't solve assignments, he'll just persuade you to do them and explain why that's useful.

SARO aims to reduce dropout rates, improve academic performance through the use of over 40 motivational techniques and increase student engagement and attention levels. Paul Apostol also explained how it works in practice.

Paul Apostol: I am a student at the Faculty of Marketing and next week I have a competition or an exam and SARO writes me on WhatsApp in the morning, greets me, suggests that maybe we do a work session with some colleagues and start preparing for that exam and this is on his own initiative. In addition to that, SARO will know at what time I am more willing to work or respond in conversation and will take these things into account.

Translated by: Radu Matei