Columbia tries using AI to cool off student tensions

Universities like Columbia are turning to AI chatbots to 'sway' student conflict

College administrators think AI might be the solution to their political PR problems, as the Department of Education weaponizes long-standing civil rights law to control educational institutions under new Trump administration goals and university campuses crack down on student protest. New York City's Columbia University, for example, is reportedly exploring a student debate platform, powered by AI, that encourages more "civil" conversations abo…

Columbia tries using AI to cool off student tensions

Can AI help "smooth over" discussion on abortion, racism, immigration, or Israel-Palestine? Columbia University sure hopes so. The Verge has learned that the university recently began testing Sway, an AI debate program currently in beta. Developed by two researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, Sway matches up students with opposing views to chat one-on-one about hot-button issues and "facilitates better discussions between them," according to…