Otermans Institute Debuts Nine-Lesson Course Using Only AI Digital Human Teachers

  • By Kate Lucariello
  • 01/10/24
OI digital human teacher

London-based Otermans Institute (OI) has rolled out a nine-lesson course that has been adopted by countries on four continents, using AI-powered digital human teachers, it said in a news release. These digital instructors create course content, teach, and test learners, the company said, instigating "a paradigm shift in the very essence of teaching and learning."

Striving to meet the world's teacher shortages, promote accessibility to underserved students and areas, and reduce the cost of education for those who can't easily afford it, OI founders Pauldy Otermans and Dev Aditya launched their "digital human" teachers in August 2023, calling it OIAI. Using OI technology, they say their form of instruction can replace "one-directional instruction and become a dynamic, two-way conversation between students and their AI teachers."

Their goals for 2024 are to expand AI-powered teaching capabilities to 40 universities by September, they said. They are also conducting trials on incorporating OIAI into existing digital learning platforms.

The digital teachers have a human-like appearance and voice and can interact with students using voice and text chats. The AI teachers are able to develop lessons tailored to individual student needs, give real-time answers to questions, and give personalized feedback. Lessons can be accessed online any time of day, and students can work through them at their own pace, OI said.

OI also offers a conversational digital study buddy for children called "Teddy AI."

The company has worked with various worldwide governments and NGOs since the launch, with over 80% of students completing its course with a 94% satisfaction rate, it said.

Anyone can sign up for a free trial and access one lesson of their choice to test the OIAI. After the trial period, a choice of subscription plans is available for varying costs. Subscriptions can be canceled at any time.

OIAI can be accessed by computer or mobile devices. Supported browsers include Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.

"We are on a mission to upskill 750 million students through soft skills and professional development skills training using an AI teacher, ensuring that no learner is left behind," said OI on its "Our Story" page. "Through our training, we are supporting learners who are forced out of school due to the pandemic, those who are in extremely remote locations, and those who have been affected by violence and war-like refugees in United Nations camps.

To learn more, visit OI's education page.

See the FAQ here, and to watch a video of "Beatrice" in action, visit this page.

About the Author

Kate Lucariello is a former newspaper editor, EAST Lab high school teacher and college English teacher.

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