Israel is poised to become the first country globally to implement nationwide AI tutoring. Startup eSelf, in collaboration with CET (Center for Educational Technology), Israel's largest K-12 textbook publisher, will provide personalized AI private tutors to students nationwide. Harvard University will serve as an academic advisor for the pilot program, evaluating its educational framework and impact. The initial pilot phase, launching in May, is expected to involve 10,000 students.
This collaboration aims to address two major challenges in education: declining student achievement and a global teacher shortage. Research shows that one-on-one tutoring significantly improves student performance. eSelf and CET's intelligent digital tutors will act as virtual companions for students, assisting them with understanding materials, independent practice, and exam preparation, both inside and outside the classroom.
The AI tutors utilize advanced technology to continuously adapt to each student's strengths and challenges, providing personalized guidance. eSelf claims its technology has lower latency than ChatGPT's voice assistant. These AI avatars are customizable in appearance and personality, and can generate course-related images and videos for more intuitive learning, directly answering student questions. Over time, the tutors adjust their teaching based on the student's learning progress.
To further enhance personalization, these virtual characters support multiple languages, initially focusing on Hebrew in the first phase. Future plans include expanding to all K-12 students in Israel and supporting various subjects. This one-on-one teaching model aims to create a more immersive, responsive, and efficient learning experience.
Tzachi Langer, CET's VP of Marketing and Product, stated that this collaboration marks a globally significant milestone in the application of AI in education, aiming to improve educational equity and boost students' academic confidence. Harvard Professor Victor Pereira expressed excitement about eSelf's transformative potential, believing it can bridge socioeconomic gaps, providing personalized tutoring for every student and promoting equitable learning.
Alan Bekker, CEO of eSelf, stated that eSelf is making history as the first company to deploy AI tutoring nationwide, hoping to provide solutions to challenges facing global education systems.
Students will reportedly access the AI tutors via subscription, with costs estimated at $10-$20 per month. A broader rollout is planned for September 25th, encompassing all subjects, including math, language, and computer science. The project's computational cost is higher due to its visual generation engine. This collaboration foreshadows the immense potential of AI in education, potentially revolutionizing global educational models.
