Why Use an AI Tutor

If deployed and implemented with care and consideration, there can be many benefits to using an AI tutor.

Enhanced Engagement and Motivation: A study by Kestin et al. (2024) suggests that students interacting with AI tutors experience significantly greater engagement and motivation compared to those in traditional classrooms.
Reduced barriers to help seeking behavior: Because AI tutors are available 24/7, students always have access to the help they need. In addition, students who feel embarrassed about approaching an instructor or teaching assistant with questions may feel more comfortable interacting with an AI tutor (Chen et al., 2022; Heart, 2024; AI-Pro, 2024).
Improved learning outcomes: Some studies have shown gains in student learning with the use of AI tutors, particularly when tutors provide formative feedback to support ongoing improvement and development (Bailey & Warner, 2025; Fazlollahi et al., 2022; Maity & Deroy, 2024).

License

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AI in Action: A SUNY FACT2 Guide to Optimizing AI in Higher Education Copyright © 2025 by SUNY FACT2 Task Group on AI in Action; Kati Ahern; Nicola Marae Allain; Abigail Bechtel; Angie Chung; Billie Franchini; Meghanne Freivald; Ken Fujiuchi; Dana Gavin; Jack Harris; Keith Landa; Alla Myzelev; Victoria Pilato; Ahmad Pratama; Russell V. Rittenhouse; Carrie Solomon; Angela C. Thering; and Shyam Sharma is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.