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MAI stands for metacognitive AI agent and is far from the well-known ChatGPT, since it supports students' independent problem-solving without providing direct answers, distinguishing it from traditional AI applications. Students aged 12 and 13 at Ritaharju Upper Secondary School found the AI agent MAI to be beneficial to their education when they were coached by MAI for a month in their physics lessons alongside their teacher.

"It doesn't give the answer but helps [us] to understand the question. This way of learning also helped to remember the learned things better," said the students in their feedback.

The AI agent MAI was developed by the University of Oulu´s Hybrid Intelligence research program, which combines machine learning with human sciences. This was the first time AI specifically designed to strengthen learning skills was introduced into classrooms.

"The idea is that AI helps students recognize the challenges in their current work. This helps students figure out how to proceed," says Joni Lämsä, a researcher at the University of Oulu.

Previously, AI has been characterized as applications that provide ready-made answers. Research shows that these applications can make learners lazy. According to Lämsä, the thinking capacity freed up by AI is not used for learning but rather goes to waste. The approach of MAI is the opposite of ready-made answers.

MAI uses hybrid intelligence

Finland, a northern European country, is famous for being ranked as one of the best education systems in the world for many times. Now a new era is beginning in the educational sciences since applications of AI are also entering schools and education.

The Multidisciplinary Hybrid Intelligence program at the University of Oulu continues the Finnish tradition of being a front-runner in education. The University of Oulu has a strong background of technological advancements in machine learning and computer vision. Oulu is one of the centers in Finland where teachers are educated, but also the northern hub for many high-level technology companies collaborating with the university. That is why the university has all the tools and expertise to tackle the question of how AI can help with education in a human-centered way.

"Hybrid Intelligence combines human strengths with AI and develops intelligent systems to enhance human intelligence rather than replace it. This ensures that AI does not replace learning or make the learner lazy. We aim for equal cooperation between humans and AI so that the unique qualities of humans can flourish," says Sanna Järvelä, Professor of Education and Leader of the Hybrid Intelligence program at the University of Oulu.

Positive feedback of teachers and students can lead the way to the future of learning

The feedback from the students and the teacher from the MAI pilot project seemed to align with the goals of hybrid intelligence. When MAI was working as an "assistant teacher" in groups of 3–4 students, conversing with them about the tasks, students reported feeling they received more personalized assistance than in regular classes and discussed the topics more during the lessons. MAI also helped with group work dynamics.

"If someone is falling behind in group work, MAI points it out. This way, we notice it and discuss the matter more with everyone in the group," states part of the feedback.

According to the physics teacher at Ritaharju School, the students accepted the AI agent well after the initial surprise. They learned quickly that MAI does not give ready-made answers.

"The AI paces and guides the students' work even when I don't have time," said the teacher.

The students said they also appreciated MAI's prompting feature, the way it didn't give the answer but helps to understand the question.

"MAI gives you the opportunity to think about how to improve your work," students report.

The pilot project continues with more research on MAI, creating the landscape for the future of education.