Hibiscus Coast residents with an interest in technology and education may be intrigued by a new study from the University of Auckland.

Researchers are investigating the role of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots in enhancing learning experiences for university students.

The study explores how these digital assistants can provide personalised guidance while helping teachers manage workloads.

The research team, led by Shahper Richter, Guy Bate, Shohil Kishore, Inna Piven, and Patrick Dodd, has developed two AI chatbots—John and Jack—designed with distinct interaction styles.

John takes on a warm and supportive role, offering empathetic feedback and encouragement. In contrast, Jack adopts a formal, efficient approach, delivering concise and precise responses.

Feedback from students revealed varied preferences.

Those from engineering disciplines often favoured Jack’s professional style, appreciating his ability to highlight areas for improvement clearly.

One engineering student remarked:

"Jack felt like someone I could take more seriously. He also pointed out a few additional things that John hadn’t when asked the same question."

Other students preferred John’s friendly, approachable tone, particularly when tackling challenging subjects. One participant noted:

"John’s encouraging feedback made me feel more comfortable exploring difficult topics."

The study also highlighted some challenges.

Students reported that both chatbots occasionally gave generic answers that lacked depth.

Others raised concerns about the potential for over-reliance on AI, which could hinder critical thinking skills.

Privacy and data security also emerged as significant issues, with students expressing unease about how their interactions were stored and used.

To address these challenges, researchers propose customisable chatbot personas that cater to diverse learning styles.

They stress that AI tools should complement, not replace, human educators.

Enhancements in context understanding and more robust privacy policies are also recommended to improve the effectiveness and ethical use of AI in classrooms.

The research team plans to expand their study to include a broader range of students and courses, aiming to refine AI tools further.

By tailoring chatbots to meet varied needs and ensuring ethical implementation, universities hope to create a balanced partnership between human teachers and AI, fostering more effective and personalised learning experiences.