ChatGPT's AI to Power Chegg Study Buddy as Educators Wrestle with AI Consequences
The U.S. educational software maker Chegg Inc is bringing the artificial intelligence behind ChatGPT, a homework-drafting chatbot that some schools have banned, to more students. Chegg has combined its quiz answers with GPT-4, the AI model behind ChatGPT, to create CheggMate, a study aide tailored to students, according to the company's CEO Dan Rosensweig who recently spoke with Reuters.
"It's a tutor in your pocket," said Rosensweig ahead of the announcement of CheggMate on Monday. The software will adapt to students by processing data on what classes they are taking and exam questions they have missed, personalizing practice tests, and guiding study in a way generalist programs like ChatGPT cannot, he said. CheggMate will be available for free initially next month, Chegg said in its announcement.
CheggMate is poised to widen what pupils do with AI just as educators are grappling with its consequences. Last year’s launch of ChatGPT led students to turn in assignments written coherently by the chatbot, letting some sidestep coursework and forcing faculty to vet their integrity. Some institutions have blocked access to ChatGPT on their devices and networks despite the desire of some educators to encourage its usage for purposes such as critique.
Rosensweig said CheggMate is particularly focused on math and the sciences, not essay drafting that has been a challenge for schools. It also lets teachers restrict review of answers to questions on current exams. To mitigate the accuracy problem faced by AI models in predicting what to say next without a grasp of facts, Chegg has structured and checked its answers to ensure accuracy, he emphasized.
Regarding AI's impact on Chegg's pool of 150,000 experts contributing to its content, Rosensweig said the company already balances humans with technology but CheggMate would likely decrease its cost of content and boost profitability over time.
The startup OpenAI developed ChatGPT and Chegg's new offering competes with it. However, Rosensweig said Chegg’s proprietary data showed its relevance and the company partnered with OpenAI to improve the way people around the world learn.
Analysts in recent months have questioned whether Chegg can grow its base of 8 million subscribers as students adopt largely free software such as ChatGPT. Chegg’s stock has fallen 28% this year as of Friday, making its market capitalization about $2.3 billion.
(Reporting By Jeffrey Dastin; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)
