The University of Maryland ran a controlled trial of its AI study assistant. Only 15 percent of students in the study used it. The tool slightly reduced final grades and course participation. Students also had access to other AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini. Most users asked for information rather than practice or feedback. Few instructors switched the tool to tutor mode. The university is delaying wider deployment. Researchers called for more faculty training on AI tools. The study highlights the difficulty of measuring AI’s impact on learning.
What changed
The university had not yet run a controlled trial of its study assistant before campus deployment.
What it unlocks
Understanding how students engage with university-built AI tools before wider rollout.
- 15% of students used the tool
- 2,379 students participated
- 73.8% used it for information
- 11.3% used it for practice
Sources