MathGPT.ai, a platform designed to combat cheating while providing tutoring and teaching assistance, is expanding to over 50 institutions following a successful pilot program at 30 U.S. colleges and universities.
Launched last year, MathGPT.ai aims to address the increasing use of AI by students for completing assignments and the uncertainty teachers face in dealing with this trend. The platform is designed to offer an “anti-cheating” tutor for college students and a supportive teaching assistant for professors. After the pilot program, MathGPT.ai is set to nearly double its availability this fall, with hundreds of instructors planning to integrate the tool into their classrooms. Participating institutions include Penn State University, Tufts University, and Liberty University, among others.
A key feature of MathGPT.ai is its AI chatbot, which is programmed to avoid directly providing answers. Instead, it employs Socratic questioning, guiding students through questions and offering support in a manner similar to a human tutor. This approach encourages critical thinking and problem-solving skills rather than simple memorization. For instructors, MathGPT.ai acts as a teaching assistant by generating questions and assignments based on uploaded textbooks and learning materials. It also offers auto-grading capabilities and other AI-powered features. MathGPT.ai supports a range of college-level math subjects, including Algebra, Calculus, and Trigonometry.
In addition to its expanded availability, MathGPT.ai has launched an upgraded version of its platform with new features designed to give professors greater control over student usage. This instructor-centric approach is a defining characteristic of MathGPT.ai. One new feature allows instructors to control when students can interact with the chatbot, enabling them to specify whether AI tutoring support should be provided for certain assignments while encouraging independent work on others. Another new feature enables professors to set the number of attempts a student has to answer a question correctly. MathGPT.ai has also introduced unlimited practice questions for students to promote a low-pressure learning environment. These practice questions do not affect students’ scores, allowing them to test their knowledge without grade-related stress. Additional features for instructors include the option to require students to upload images of their work, allowing professors to review submissions and verify their authenticity.
Recent updates also include integration with the three largest Learning Management Systems (LMS): Canvas, Blackboard, and Brightspace. The platform has also added screen reader compatibility and an audio mode to improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities. MathGPT.ai already provides closed captions for its summarized video lessons, which are AI-narrated in the style of historical figures such as Ben Franklin and Albert Einstein. The company asserts that it complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Addressing concerns about inappropriate interactions, MathGPT.ai emphasizes that it has strict guardrails in place to ensure a safe learning environment. “It will not have discussions with you about your girlfriend, boyfriend, or the meaning of life,” Peter Relan, the chairman of MathGPT.ai, told TechCrunch. “It will simply not engage. Because these freestanding chatbots will go in that direction, right? We are not here to entertain those kinds of conversations.” MathGPT.ai acknowledges that, like any chatbot, its assistant may produce inaccurate information. A disclosure at the bottom of the chatbot warns users that the AI may make mistakes. Users can report incorrect answers to the company. “If you find a mistake, we will reward you with a gift card to tell us what it is. Year one, there were five [hallucinations]. Year two, there was one. So far [this year], none. So we take it very seriously,” Relan said, adding that MathGPT.ai has a team of human annotators who double-check every piece of work, textbook, and all other content to ensure “100% accuracy.”
To further its growth, MathGPT.ai plans to develop a mobile app and expand to other subjects, including chemistry, economics, and accounting. MathGPT.ai offers both a free option and a paid option priced at $25 per student per course. The paid option provides benefits such as unlimited AI assignments and LMS integration.
