IBM and Penn State create AI concierge for 90,000 students
IBM announced a strategic partnership with Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), ranked in the top 6% of world universities, to develop and implement an innovative student concierge MyResource based on the watsonx artificial intelligence platform.
The system launch, scheduled for the fall semester, will cover nearly 90,000 university students. The project emerged after Penn State student leaders identified the need to improve access to campus services, including academic advising, healthcare, and financial aid. Subsequent analysis conducted by the university confirmed these needs.
“Student success is our priority, and this is an important step toward improving student life and experience across the university,” said Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi. “We are excited to collaborate with IBM in using generative AI as a critical tool for creating a more student-centered experience, removing barriers, and improving student retention rates.”
The technological foundation of MyResource will consist of IBM’s advanced developments. The company’s consultants and experts are using watsonx Assistant conversational AI capabilities to create the system. The watsonx.ai platform will be used to host, train, and fine-tune foundation models using Penn State data. The system includes mechanisms for detecting and removing potentially harmful content and sensitive data.
“IBM is proud to create a joint solution with Penn State that will play a significant role in developing student interactions through an AI assistant,” emphasized Frank Attaie, IBM’s General Manager of Public Sector. “Penn State students want faster access to important resources needed for success during and after their education.”
To improve the quality and accuracy of responses, MyResource will utilize watsonx Discovery search capabilities. IBM plans to scale this solution to other U.S. higher education institutions in the future, which could mark the beginning of a new era in AI application in the education sector.
