MathGPT Expands to Over 50 Institutions, Offering 'Cheat-Proof' AI Tutoring

MathGPT, the 'cheat-proof' AI tutor and teaching assistant, expands to over 50 institutions | TechCrunch

As AI becomes more prevalent in the classroom -- where students use it to complete assignments and teachers are uncertain about how to address it -- an AI platform called MathGPT launched last year with the goal of providing an "anti-cheating" tutor to college students and a teaching assistant to professors. Following a successful pilot program at 30 colleges and universities in the U.S., MathGPT is preparing to nearly double its availability this fall, with hundreds of instructors planning to incorporate the tool. Schools implementing MathGPT in their classrooms include Penn State University, Tufts University, and Liberty University, among others. The most notable aspect of the platform is that its AI chatbot is trained to never directly give the answer, but instead ask students questions and provide support, much like a human tutor would. This technique, known as Socratic questioning, encourages students to think critically rather than simply memorizing answers. For instructors, MathGPT serves as a teaching assistant, generating questions and schoolwork based on uploaded textbooks and learning materials, as well as offering auto-grading capabilities and additional AI features. MathGPT supports college-level math, including Algebra, Calculus, Trigonometry, and more. In addition to the expansion, MathGPT launched an upgraded version of its platform, introducing new features that give professors more control over how their students use the tools. The main feature that sets MathGPT apart from other AI companies is its instructor-centric approach. Recently, the platform has become even more focused on instructors' needs. For example, instructors can now determine when students are allowed to interact with the chatbot. They can specify whether the AI should provide tutoring support for specific assignments while encouraging students to work independently on others. Another new feature allows professors to set the number of attempts a student has to answer a question correctly. To promote a low-pressure learning environment, MathGPT has also introduced unlimited practice questions for students. These questions don't affect their score, allowing students to test their knowledge without stressing about grades. Additional features that MathGPT offers to instructors include an optional requirement for students to upload images of their work. This enables professors to review submissions and verify the authenticity of the students' work. Other recent updates include integrations with the three largest Learning Management Systems (LMS): Canvas, Blackboard, and Brightspace. It also added screen reader compatibility and an audio mode, making it more accessible to individuals with disabilities. The platform already offers closed captions for its summarized video lessons, which are notably AI-narrated to sound like historical figures like Ben Franklin and Albert Einstein. The company claims it complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). While chatbots like Meta AI, Character.AI, and ChatGPT have faced criticism for inappropriate interactions with young users, MathGPT says it has strict guardrails in place to ensure a safe learning environment. "It will not have discussions with you about your girlfriend, boyfriend, or the meaning of life," Peter Relan, the chairman of MathGPT, told TechCrunch. "It will simply not engage. Because these freestanding chatbots will go in that direction, right? We are not here to entertain those kinds of conversations." (Relan helped incubate Got It AI and was an early Discord investor.) It's important to note that, like any chatbot, MathGPT's AI still has the potential to produce inaccurate information. The chatbot has a disclosure at the bottom that warns the AI may make mistakes. Users can report the responses to the company if they believe the questions were answered incorrectly. "If you find a mistake, we will reward you with a gift card to tell us what it is. Year one, there were five [hallucinations]. Year two, there was one. So far [this year], none. So we take it very seriously," Relan said, adding that MathGPT has a team of human annotators to double-check every piece of work, textbook, and all other content to ensure "100% accuracy." To continue its growth, the company plans to develop a mobile app in the future and expand to more subjects, such as chemistry, economics, and accounting. MathGPT offers a free option, as well as a $25 per student per course option. The paid option includes several benefits, such as unlimited AI assignments and LMS integration.

MathGPT.ai expands to 50+ colleges with "cheat-proof" AI tutor

MathGPT.ai, an AI platform positioning itself as a "cheat-proof" tutor and teaching assistant, is expanding its reach to over 50 institutions this fall after a pilot program. The platform aims to support college students and assist professors in navigating the increasing presence of AI in education. Following a pilot program involving 30 colleges and universities across the United States, MathGPT.ai is set to nearly double its availability. Hundreds of instructors are planning to integrate the platform into their courses during the upcoming academic year. Participating institutions include Penn State University, Tufts University, and Liberty University, among others. A central feature of MathGPT.ai is its AI chatbot, designed to avoid providing direct answers to students. Instead, the chatbot is programmed to guide students through Socratic questioning, offering support and posing questions to stimulate critical thinking. This approach encourages students to engage with the material in a more active and analytical way, rather than simply memorizing solutions. For instructors, MathGPT.ai functions as a teaching assistant. The platform can generate questions and assignments based on uploaded textbooks and learning materials. Additionally, it offers auto-grading capabilities and other AI-driven features designed to streamline the assessment process. The platform supports a range of college-level mathematics subjects, encompassing Algebra, Calculus, Trigonometry, and related areas. Alongside its expansion in institutional adoption, MathGPT.ai has introduced an upgraded version of its platform. This update incorporates new features intended to give professors greater control over how students interact with the tools. A primary focus of MathGPT.ai is its instructor-centric design, which has been further emphasized in the upgraded version. One notable enhancement allows instructors to specify when students are permitted to engage with the chatbot. This facilitates a blended learning environment where AI tutoring support can be selectively enabled for specific assignments, while students are encouraged to work independently on others. This feature allows instructors to tailor the level of AI assistance based on the specific learning objectives and the needs of their students. Another addition allows professors to define the number of attempts a student has to answer a question correctly. This customization aims to provide a structured learning experience with opportunities for iterative improvement. In parallel, MathGPT.ai has introduced unlimited practice questions for students, designed to foster a low-pressure learning environment in which students can freely test their knowledge without the anxiety of impacting their grades. These practice questions are separate from graded assignments, allowing students to explore concepts and build confidence. MathGPT.ai also offers instructors the option to require students to upload images of their work. This feature enables professors to review student submissions and verify the authenticity of their work, adding a layer of accountability. This functionality is intended to deter academic dishonesty and ensure that students are genuinely engaging with the problem-solving process. Recent updates to MathGPT.ai include integrations with three major Learning Management Systems (LMS): Canvas, Blackboard, and Brightspace. These integrations facilitate seamless integration of MathGPT.ai into existing educational workflows. Addressing accessibility, screen reader compatibility and an audio mode have been implemented. This enhances usability for individuals with disabilities, aligning with the company's claim of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The platform also offers closed captions for its summarized video lessons. These video lessons feature AI-generated narration voiced to resemble historical figures such as Benjamin Franklin and Albert Einstein. Peter Relan, the chairman of MathGPT.ai, addressed concerns regarding inappropriate interactions, stating that the platform has implemented strict guardrails to ensure a safe learning environment. He stated, "It will not have discussions with you about your girlfriend, boyfriend, or the meaning of life. It will simply not engage. Because these freestanding chatbots will go in that direction, right? We are not here to entertain those kinds of conversations." Relan has a background in technology, having helped incubate Got It AI and being an early investor in Discord. The company acknowledges that, like any AI chatbot, MathGPT.ai has the potential to produce inaccurate information. A disclaimer is displayed, alerting users to the possibility of errors. Users are encouraged to report incorrect answers to the company. Relan stated, "If you find a mistake, we will reward you with a gift card to tell us what it is. Year one, there were five [hallucinations]. Year two, there was one. So far [this year], none. So we take it very seriously." He added that MathGPT.ai has a team of human annotators who double-check textbooks, assignments, and all other content to ensure accuracy. Future plans for MathGPT.ai include the development of a mobile app and expansion into additional subjects, such as chemistry, economics, and accounting. This expansion aims to broaden the platform's utility and appeal to a wider range of students and instructors. MathGPT.ai offers both a free option and a paid option priced at $25 per student per course. The paid option provides benefits such as unlimited AI assignments and LMS integration. The free option allows access to basic features, while the paid version unlocks more comprehensive functionality.