Cengage Launches Gen AI Student Assistant in Beta

Education technology company Cengage has announced Student Assistant, a generative AI tool designed to guide students through the learning process with personalized resources and feedback, now available in beta. The feature will be tested by more than 5,000 higher education students this fall.

In the beta test, the Student Assistant will be embedded in Cengage's MindTap online learning platform for four courses: Principles of Management, Organizational Behavior, Lifespan Psychology, and Principles of Economics. For each course, the AI is trained to prioritize pedagogy and have advanced expertise in a respective discipline, Cengage explained in a news announcement, but is confined to the knowledge in that given course area. The company emphasized that the tool "does not provide answers," but rather "helps students understand concepts, apply learnings and arrive at the correct answers."

"I always have a number of students each semester that ask for tutor services, but as a community college, we don't have tutor services available for economics. The Student Assistant offers an opportunity for every single one of my students to have a private tutor. This not only provides support to them at times when I can't — like the 3 A.M. study push — but also helps narrow down the gaps in their understanding," said Noreen Templin, department chair and professor of economics at Butler Community College. "Often students will come to me because they are confused, but they don't necessarily know what they are confused about. I have been incredibly impressed with the Student Assistant's ability to help guide students to better understand where they are struggling. This will not only benefit the student but has the potential to help me be a better teacher, enable more critical thinking and foster more engaging classroom discussion." 

"We have spent a considerable amount of time talking to students, faculty and other industry stakeholders to ensure we introduce a solution that addresses the challenges facing students and educators in the classroom today and upholds the highest standards of academic integrity," commented Michael E. Hansen, CEO of Cengage Group. "I am thrilled to bring this gen AI-powered tool to market and get it into the hands of students. We know that everyone learns at a different pace and in different ways; the Student Assistant empowers all learners to better personalize their experience, increasing engagement, deepening understanding, improving outcomes, and ultimately, setting them up for greater success."

Cengage said it plans to expand availability for the Student Assistant in Spring 2025. Visit the Cengage site for more information.

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • dormitory with green roofs, solar panels, balconies, and labeled architectural annotations

    2025 Residence Hall Design Trends Focus on Sustainability, Flexibility, Community, Technology, and Well-Being

    With the most technically advanced Gen Z (born between 1997 and 2012) at the helm, residence hall design trends for 2025 look to focus on flexible spaces, health and wellness, sustainability, community, and digital technology.

  • ClassVR Wins Tech & Learning Best of Show at ISTELive 25

    Avantis Education recently announced that its flagship product, ClassVR, won the Tech & Learning Best of Show Award at ISTELive 25 in San Antonio, Texas, according to a news release. The program is designed to celebrate products that are “transforming education in schools around the world and that show the greatest promise for the industry,” and this is the fourth consecutive year that Avantis has claimed the award.

  • Beeville ISD Starts Construction on New Elementary School

    The Beeville Independent School District near Corpus Christi, Texas, recently began a construction project that will consolidate two existing, aging schools into a new elementary school, according to a news release. The district is partnering with Pfluger Architects and Spawglass General Contractors for the design and construction, respectively, of the new facility.

  • ECM Technologies Wins ‘Most Innovative Business of the Year’ Award

    HVAC preventative maintenance and efficiency solutions provider ECM Technologies was recently named the “Most Innovative Business of the Year” at the 2025 Champions of Change Awards, according to a news release. The program recognizes Arizona business leaders and organizations taking steps to make a positive impact on the state through innovative thinking and philanthropy.

Digital Edition