Meet Buddy AI: The new campus companion at HIT

In an age of advanced technology and artificial intelligence, academic institutions strive to create a more personalized learning environment for each student. The Faculty of Instructional Technologies at HIT Holon Institute of Technology has taken up this challenge with an innovative initiative to improve students' academic experience and ease their integration into university life. Introducing Buddy AI.

Buddy AI, developed by Gilad Bornstein—a HIT graduate and faculty lecturer in the programming cluster—is an AI-based system that integrates ChatGPT technology, known for its leading language analysis capabilities. This system allows students to get real-time answers to a wide range of questions, including course-related inquiries, institutional procedures, and personal advice on campus life—accessible anytime and from anywhere, without the need for direct human assistance. “The goal was to make the process of obtaining information more accessible and user-friendly, so every student, new or veteran, feels they receive all the support they need,” Bornstein explains.

Buddy AI is not just another basic information tool. It includes an advanced search engine built on the institution's data repositories, offering comprehensive and consistent support thanks to its sophisticated text analysis that ensures each student receives clear and relevant answers. When the system cannot provide a satisfactory answer, it directs the user to a qualified authority, enabling a seamless and convenient support experience.

Prof. Gila Kurtz, Dean of the Faculty of Instructional Technologies, adds: “Our faculty continues to lead in adopting innovative technologies for teaching and learning. Buddy AI is a significant step toward a future where artificial intelligence enriches and enhances learning accessibility.”

Since its launch, Buddy AI has already answered hundreds of student inquiries in its first week, not only reducing the workload of administrative and academic staff but also helping students confidently navigate the academic and social aspects of campus life. Buddy AI demonstrates how advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence, can create a more supportive and tailored learning environment for academic institutions.

The Faculty of Instructional Technologies at HIT plans to expand Buddy AI’s capabilities and integrate it into additional systems to meet the evolving needs of students. What started as an experimental project may, in the future, transform how academic institutions in Israel and worldwide support their students—with a digital companion that provides information, support, and aids in campus integration.