AI agents are coming for higher education — here are the trends to watch

AI agents – autonomous tools with enhanced decision-making capabilities beyond traditional chatbots – are being deployed across higher education institutions to handle administrative tasks and support learning.

Key developments: AI agents are emerging as the next evolution in educational technology, building upon the widespread adoption of generative AI tools in academia.

• These agents can operate independently, making decisions based on available information rather than requiring specific user prompts
• Over 100 institutions have partnered with companies like CollegeVine to implement AI agents
• The technology is being used for student recruitment, course support, and administrative tasks

Practical applications: Higher education institutions are finding success with AI agents in student recruitment and academic support roles.

• Knox College deployed an AI recruiter that conducts outbound calls to prospective students, handling 128 calls in just six weeks
• Berry College’s AI agent “Missy” engages with prospective students who might feel intimidated by human counselors
• The University of Sydney’s Cogniti platform enables professors to create custom chatbots that serve as “stunt doubles” for instructor support

Technical implementation: Institutions are carefully customizing their AI agents to ensure accuracy and appropriate behavior.

• Schools train their agents using specific websites, PDFs, and institutional resources
• Staff conduct conversations with the AI to establish proper tone and formality
• Agents are programmed to redirect sensitive topics like financial aid to human staff members

Student reception: Early evidence suggests students are comfortable engaging with AI agents for certain interactions.

• Students often feel more comfortable asking questions to AI agents than human counselors
• The judgment-free nature of AI interactions encourages more open communication
• AI agents can provide support at any time, including during off-hours and holidays

Integration and expansion: Major technology companies and educational platforms are developing new AI agent solutions.

• Google has introduced Learning Coach through its Gemini Gems platform
• Microsoft recently announced new agent capabilities in Copilot for educational institutions
• Cogniti is currently used by 2,000 instructors across more than 60 institutions worldwide

Looking ahead: limitations and potential: While AI agents show promise in automating various educational tasks, they cannot fully replicate the multifaceted role of educators.

• The technology’s current limitations prevent it from fully mimicking the complex, integrated roles that educators play
• Future applications may extend to student advising and alumni relations
• The focus remains on complementing rather than replacing human educators in the learning environment