PeteChat: AI course-aligned adaptive tutor
| Societal Challenge | Partner Organization | AI Technology | Expected Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Learners lack continuous and personalized support across academic programs | Purdue Global: ~36,000 online working adults | LLM tutor, knowledge graph, reviewer agent | Improved learning and retention, with lower institutional costs through fewer one-on-one live tutoring hours |
THE CHALLENGE
Students stuck late at night rarely have a TA to turn to, and generic chatbots are not institutionally governed and can’t provide course-contextual responses. For Purdue Global’s ~36,000 online working adults, those late-night gaps are when students fall behind and drop out.
OUR AI SOLUTION
PeteChat is a 24/7, course-aligned AI tutor that guides learning instead of doing the work. A knowledge graph grounds answers in course materials; it builds study guides, generates simulations, and quizzes students, while a reviewer agent blocks full solutions. Built for FERPA, ADA, and data governance.
PROGRESS SINCE PHASE 1
| Phase 1 | Phase 2 Progress |
|---|---|
| ECE 20875 pilot, ~400 students | Purdue Global pilot, GenEd and STEM courses |
| 2026 Top 10 Best Practice, AI in Ed | PG leadership validation; CIO roadmap |
WHY IT MATTERS
PEOPLE
Working adults get course-specific help 24/7.
IMPACT
Fewer 1:1 tutoring hours; higher retention.
WORKING WITH PARTNERS
Purdue Global
Purdue Global has shaped PeteChat since spring 2026; its Chief Academic Officer, a dean, and faculty validated the need. PG hosts the Phase 2 pilot.
PATH TO SCALE
Pilot → Scale → Spinout → Workforce
PG scales up in late 2027; a Purdue OTC spinout then reaches more schools (~$3B by 2030) and workforce training ($100B+).
PHASE 2 GOALS
- Pilot in PG GenEd and STEM courses
- Track learning across sequential courses
- Dashboards for instructors and administrators
- Measure learning, engagement, and retention
THE TEAM
- Colby Acton & Carter Gibbs, Student Leads
- Prof. Qiu & Prof. Zakharov, Faculty Advisors
- ECE
Open to academic program partnerships. Email qqiu@purdue.edu.