AI functions which can be used meaningfully in university education.
Table of Contents
Possible meaningful applications of AI
Across various sources, university teachers report using pedagogical AI functions in meaningful ways. Below is an overview of these options.
Because of the rapid developments in AI and the potential applications in education, there will be more options than those presented in this list, prepared in April 2026.
12 AI functions which can be used meaningfully in university education.
AI that helps students understand texts faster.
This AI provides short, clear summaries and explanations of challenging sections within learning materials. Breaking down complicated concepts and highlighting key points enables students to grasp new information much more quickly. The tool can also offer definitions for unfamiliar terms and clarify ambiguous sentences, making it easier for students to focus on understanding the main ideas rather than getting stuck on difficult passages. This support helps learners build confidence as they tackle complex texts and encourages more active reading and engagement.2
AI that creates good study questions
This AI generates questions designed to help students recall important information, practice what they have learned, and think more deeply about the material. The study questions can range from simple factual recall to higher-level critical thinking prompts. By tailoring questions to different learning objectives, the AI supports students in reviewing content, testing their understanding, and developing their ability to analyse and synthesise information. This interactive approach encourages active learning and reinforces knowledge retention.
AI that generates practice exercises
This AI generates practice tasks at various difficulty levels, offering a range of exercises in different formats, variations, and opportunities for repetition. Customising practice activities to match each learner’s skills and progress helps students reinforce their understanding and develop mastery. The exercises may include multiple-choice questions, problem-solving scenarios, or hands-on assignments, providing diverse ways to learn and apply new concepts.
AI that gives step-by-step guidance
This AI offers hints and guidance that help students work through tasks or solve problems one step at a time. Instead of simply providing answers, it encourages learners to think critically and develop their own solutions by offering prompts, suggestions, and feedback as they progress. This step-by-step support helps students develop problem-solving skills and builds their confidence in tackling challenging assignments independently.
AI that gives quick formative feedback
This AI delivers immediate feedback on students’ texts, answers, or assignments, aligning its comments with established criteria or rubrics. Instant feedback helps learners recognise their strengths, identify areas for improvement, and make timely corrections. By offering constructive suggestions, the AI encourages students to reflect on their work and continuously improve, resulting in a more effective learning process.
AI that improves peer feedback
This AI provides students with rubrics, example comments, and a structured format for giving peer reviews. By guiding students in evaluating each other’s work constructively and fairly, the AI fosters a supportive learning environment. The tool helps learners develop critical analysis and communication skills while ensuring that peer feedback is meaningful, respectful, and beneficial for everyone involved.
AI that builds realistic professional scenarios
This AI creates simulations of authentic professional situations where students must make decisions and experience the consequences of their choices. By immersing learners in realistic scenarios, the tool helps them develop practical problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and professional judgment. These simulations also provide a safe environment for experimenting with different strategies and learning from mistakes before facing similar situations in the real world.
AI that plays a professional role
This AI acts as a conversational partner by simulating roles such as a client, patient, manager, or customer. Students can use the tool to practice professional communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills in a variety of contexts. By engaging in realistic dialogues, learners gain confidence and competence in handling real-life interactions within their future careers.
AI that helps students analyse data
This AI supports students with cleaning, visualising, and interpreting datasets. By helping learners organise raw data, create meaningful charts or graphs, and draw insightful conclusions, the tool enables students to develop essential analytical skills. The AI can also guide students in identifying trends, patterns, and outliers, making data-driven decision-making more accessible and easier to understand.
AI that helps students write and fix code
This AI provides coding suggestions, explains errors, and offers alternative solutions to programming problems. Whether students are just beginning to learn how to code or working on advanced projects, the tool helps them understand best practices, fix bugs, and explore different approaches to solving technical challenges. The AI’s support makes learning programming more accessible and less intimidating for students at all levels.
AI that helps students start and improve writing
This AI assists students with brainstorming ideas, organising their thoughts, rewriting drafts, and enhancing the quality of their writing. By offering suggestions for structure, style, and clarity, the tool helps learners develop stronger written communication skills. Whether working on essays, reports, or creative writing, students can rely on the AI for guidance at every stage of the writing process.
AI that creates diagrams and visuals
This AI automatically generates diagrams, schemes, and concept maps to visualise ideas and concepts. By turning abstract information into clear visual formats, the tool helps students better understand relationships between concepts, organise information, and remember key points. Visual aids can make learning more engaging and accessible for a wide range of learners.
AI that adapts quizzes to the student’s level
This AI generates quiz questions that automatically adjust in difficulty based on the student’s performance. If a learner answers several questions correctly, the tool presents more challenging items; if they struggle, it offers easier ones for review. This adaptive approach ensures that quizzes remain motivating and appropriately challenging, helping each student progress at their own pace.
AI that shows learning progress
This AI provides insights into study behaviour, learning progress, and any bottlenecks or challenges students face. By analysing performance data over time, the tool gives both teachers and students a clear picture of strengths, weaknesses, and areas that require more attention. These insights support targeted interventions and personalised learning strategies, helping students achieve better outcomes.
- AI that supports reflective portfolios
This AI helps students collect, organise, and comment on learning artefacts for their reflective portfolios. By guiding learners in curating evidence of their progress, achievements, and challenges, the tool supports a deeper understanding of personal growth and learning. Students can use the AI to reflect on their experiences, set goals, and document meaningful milestones throughout their educational journey.
