UC San Diego Extended Studies Offers First Class Experience with RIA Robot

Students also had to push themselves to maintain fluid, uninterrupted speech with RIA.

Much like a human, RIA would interpret any long pauses as an indication to respond. This challenged the students to improve their fluency, which is one of the most difficult aspects of learning a second language, especially in a medical context.

“The students were so captivated by RIA that they voluntarily stayed after class, which is unheard of,” Rezach noted. “Not a single person was on their smartphone either. It shows that RIA brought something special to the table—something that resonated deeply with the students.”

The interactions were a learning experience for RIA, too.

“RIA isn’t meant to just be a teacher’s aide in the classroom—she learns and adapts with every interaction,” Koneru explained. “Each role play and conversation enhances her social capabilities and makes her an increasingly valuable resource in healthcare and education.”

Future versions of RIA will be able to provide personalized feedback to students, highlight areas for improvement, and offer focused learning recommendations toward skills that will most impactfully enhance the student’s progress in the class.

As AI continues to evolve, both Jerke and Rezach see nearly infinite possibilities for its application in education.

“From this starting point, I could imagine a long list of utilities for RIA in the medical field,” said Dr. Jerke. “RIA could teach the elderly how to navigate modern technology or help with scheduling and sharing information in doctor’s offices.”

Dr. Jerke sees a more empathy-driven opportunity, too.

“Having a socially intelligent AI to help train doctors on their communication skills, especially for difficult conversations, would be an incredible alternative to the ‘try-it-and-see-what-happens’ approach most doctors use,” Dr. Jerke added. “It definitely would have been beneficial to me when I was learning how to communicate bad news or interact with patients, in general. It takes off the pressure of hurting the other person or not correctly conveying what you want to say.”

Rezach is especially optimistic about the opportunities.

“AI can do so much more than we ever imagined,” he said. “It’s not just about making tasks easier or faster; it’s about creating new opportunities for learning and growth that weren’t possible before. That’s where we see the future of AI in education—providing tailored learning experiences that help each student progress at their own pace.