LAUSD's new student advisor is an AI bot that designs academic plans, suggests books

Alberto M. Carvalho sought to establish the nation's second-largest school system as a hub for innovation. "This is a technology that becomes a personal assistant to students," Carvalho said at a demonstration at Roybal Leaning Center, west of downtown. "It demystifies the navigation of the day ... crunches the data in a way that it brings what students need." Other school systems have pioneered similar platforms with chatbots -- as educators try to better engage students and families to improve learning and attendance. But Ed takes such efforts to the highest level yet, said Joanna Smith-Griffin, chief executive of Boston-based AllHere, which has worked with districts across the country and won a 6-million contract over five years to guide the L.A. effort. At its core, Ed is designed to give students immediate answers about where they stand, what they need to do to make progress -- or, more immediately, find out when their bus will arrive.