Incubator Launches Program to Support Student-Created Ed Tech

Startup Launches 'Built by Students for Students' Tech Incubator

An education technology start-up that intends to offer a platform that uses artificial intelligence to help people break down their education goals into achievable segments has just acquired a bot created by a 14-year-old to remind users to do their homework. A "bot" is a program intended to act like a personalized assistant, sounding human and automating tasks.

myKlovr announced the acquisition of Christopher Bot by Canadian student Alec Jones just weeks after it was profiled in a BBC article. The student enters his or her schedule, and Christopher Bot prompts for new assignments, subject by subject. If the user answers "yes" to any prompts, the bot responds with a "friend-like" response ("that sucks more than a vacuum") and sends a "homework summary" at the end of each day. When the homework is done, the student notifies the bot, and the assignment is removed. When the student is on vacation, the bot goes quiet.

The acquisition kicks off a new program for myKlovr called "For Students, By Students." It's intended to encourage students to create innovations in education and development and make them available through an eventual marketplace the company will host.

In this case, the bot integrates into myKlovr's own goal of helping people "who have big dreams," as Founder and CEO, Gustavo Dolfino, noted in a press release. myKlovr is expected to launch in June 2017 with an AI goal-setting recommendation platform and the education-focused marketplace.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • glowing video screen with a play button, next to a floating holographic paper transcript displaying faint digital text

    3Play Media Launches AI-Enabled Accessibility Tools

    Accessibility provider 3Play Media has introduced new AI-enabled video accessibility solutions designed to help colleges and universities meet ADA Title II compliance regulations.

  • hand touching glowing connected dots

    Registration Now Open for Tech Tactics in Education: Thriving in the Age of AI

    Tech Tactics in Education has officially opened registration for its May 7 virtual conference on "Thriving in the Age of AI." The annual event, brought to you by the producers of Campus Technology and THE Journal, offers hands-on learning and interactive discussions on the most critical technology issues and practices across K–12 and higher education.

  • consultant and educator sitting at a modern desk with a laptop and tablet, surrounded by abstract icons of online learning in a bright, minimalist setting

    Quality Matters Launches Advisory and Consulting Service

    A new service from Quality Matters, the nonprofit focused on quality assurance in online and innovative digital teaching and learning environments, is designed to help colleges and universities develop a sustainable online learning strategy.

  • futuristic crystal ball with holographic data projections

    Call for Opinions: 2025 Predictions for Higher Ed IT

    How will the technology landscape in higher education change in the coming year? We're inviting our readership to weigh in with their predictions, wishes, or worries for 2025.