During his undergraduate career, Joshua Smith found many opportunities to gain experience in programming and data analytics. These experiences and his fascination with AI, ignited in 2017 in response to innovations in visual style transfer, led him to begin developing UBot as a student. Now, as a professional, he continues to refine it.
Smith graduated from the University of Utah in 2023 with a degree in mathematics and an emphasis in computation. He is now working as a software engineer at the Office of Undergraduate Studies’ Academic Innovation and Intelligence Lab, where he combines his background in mathematics and passion for artificial intelligence to transform campus tutoring.
UBot isn’t just another chatbot; it is a virtual tutor that redefines the academic support experience. Instead of giving answers outright, it guides students through a Socratic dialogue, encouraging them to arrive at solutions on their own and strengthening their critical thinking skills. Built on state-of-the-art large language models, UBot embeds into each course that opts in by integrating with class syllabi, lectures, and assignments in order to offer targeted support. Smith has seen the benefits, saying, “We’ve tested it in many courses so far with great success. On average, the grades of students who used UBot increased by 1.4 grade points. That would be the difference between a C+ and an A-.”
UBot is available 24/7 and designed to support students when traditional tutoring resources are unavailable. The impact of its accessibility is demonstrated by peak usage observed between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. Currently, it can be accessed in a generic form for any student through the Learning Center or personalized for specific courses via Canvas integration. Looking ahead, Smith envisions deploying UBot campus-wide and eventually across the United States. He also plans to expand his AI work with new projects like UGuide, a tool to help students choose majors. His innovative approaches are paving the way for a future where technology and education intersect to empower every student.
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