Element451 Launches AI Chatbot for College Websites

CRM software provider Element451 recently launched an AI-powered chatbot designed to help students navigate college websites.

The new tool, called Bolt Discovery, is a natural-language application that can be embedded onto any educational instution's website. Using generative AI and grounding in that institution's data, Bolt Discovery can act as a concierge for students browsing the site, quickly answering questions and providing links to sources.

"This innovative tool provides instant, accurate answers and anticipates student needs, offering a seamless and intuitive search experience," said Element451 CEO Ardis Kadiu in a prepared statement.

College sites tend to be frustrating for prospective students, Element451 argues, because they don't offer ready information about popular topics like residence halls, dining options, or registration deadlines. Instead, students often find themselves having to pore over page after page before they find the information they were looking for. Often, they run into information that's contradictory or outdated.

Bolt Discovery addresses this problem by providing a simple chat interface for students that quickly surfaces relevant data, complete with source links and recommendations for likely follow-up questions. Institutions can ground Bolt Discovery on whatever data they choose, including website data, course catalogs, and other sources.

Besides text-based results, Bolt Discovery can also respond to student questions with relevant videos and other media. Students can then share these convesations with others.

More information about Bolt Discovery is available here.

About the Author

Gladys Rama (@GladysRama3) is the editorial director of Converge360.

Featured

  • interconnected cloud icons with glowing lines on a gradient blue backdrop

    Report: Cloud Certifications Bring Biggest Salary Payoff

    It pays to be conversant in cloud, according to a new study from Skillsoft The company's annual IT skills and salary survey report found that the top three certifications resulting in the highest payoffs salarywise are for skills in the cloud, specifically related to Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Nutanix.

  • a hobbyist in casual clothes holds a hammer and a toolbox, building a DIY structure that symbolizes an AI model

    Ditch the DIY Approach to AI on Campus

    Institutions that do not adopt AI will quickly fall behind. The question is, how can colleges and universities do this systematically, securely, cost-effectively, and efficiently?

  • minimalist geometric grid pattern of blue, gray, and white squares and rectangles

    Windows Server 2025 Release Offers Cloud, Security, and AI Capabilities

    Microsoft has announced the general availability of Windows Server 2025. The release will enable organizations to deploy applications on-premises, in hybrid setups, or fully in the cloud, the company said.

  • digital brain made of blue circuitry on the left and a shield with a glowing lock on the right, set against a dark background with fading binary code

    AI Dominates Key Technologies and Practices in Cybersecurity and Privacy

    AI governance, AI-enabled workforce expansion, and AI-supported cybersecurity training are three of the six key technologies and practices anticipated to have a significant impact on the future of cybersecurity and privacy in higher education, according to the latest Cybersecurity and Privacy edition of the Educause Horizon Report.