VBuddies pivots to AI for immersive edtech experiences

Metaverse Tech, the edtech company founded in 2020 to develop immersive educational experiences, has integrated AI into its 3D and virtual reality (VR) educational software, VBuddies.

Studies indicate that more than 80 per cent of students benefit significantly from personal tutoring (Brookings, 2020), though socio-economic disparities often limit access to such support (Sutton Trust, 2022). VBuddies’ affordable and accessible AI tutor aims to bridge this gap, ensuring more students can benefit from personalised tutoring.

While VBuddies generates 3D and VR environments, the app’s audio and messaging functionalities foster collaborative learning, and a robust analytics dashboard enables teachers to track student usage of the app.

The AI integration promises to enhance learning outcomes for students while easing teachers’ workloads. The innovative AI personal tutor within the VBuddies app will adapt to each student’s unique learning style, “significantly boosting understanding and retention of English and maths for KS2”. This adaptive AI will provide customised feedback for each student, substantially reducing teachers’ time spent on marking and administrative tasks.

“This innovation will also allow schools to reallocate the resulting savings to address other critical budgetary needs,” said co-founder Dr Jon Fearon-Jones.

The new technology will deliver “a learning experience that is both engaging and personalised, merging immersive environments with tailored tutoring”, while also cutting teachers’ workloads and costs.

“VBuddies aims to address the diverse abilities within classrooms by assisting teachers in delivering more personalised and engaging learning experiences tailored to each student’s needs,” says co-founder Lijia Zhang.

Metaverse Tech has invited teachers, schools, and parents to participate in testing and giving feedback to refine and enhance the VBuddies experience.