On Feb. 27, students and staff had the opportunity to engage with France Hoang, CEO of Boodlebox, as he discussed the role of AI in education. Hoang’s visit focused on how AI can be integrated into the classroom through Boodlebox.
Hoang’s unique career includes 20 years in national security with service in every branch of the U.S. government. Hoang also worked as a lawyer before becoming an entrepreneur.
His presentation addressed three key concerns frequently asked by educators and students: (1) whether AI is taking jobs, (2) whether AI is making college less important and (3) whether AI is diminishing the role of teachers.
According to Hoang, AI is reshaping the workforce, but rather than fearing this change, we should learn to use it. He compared today’s AI revolution to the technological advancements of the Gilded Age.
However, he emphasized that students must first develop “domain expertise” before using AI. “Be good at what you do, and use AI to be better,” Hoang said.
Hoang also noted the risks of avoiding AI altogether. He argued that AI is becoming an essential skill for the modern workforce.
Hoang addressed the environmental impact of AI, particularly concerns about water consumption. Some AI models reportedly use between 1 and 12 liters of water per chat.
Hoang explained that Boodlebox operates with lower token usage, which reduces computational power and, consequently, energy and water consumption.
According to the Technology Policy Institute, “A token is the smallest piece of information an AI model processes…Fewer tokens mean lower resource demands.”
Following the presentation, attendees moved to the Art and Education Building for a live demonstration of Boodlebox. The platform offers customizable AI bots that serve different educational purposes. Specifically, its tutor bots promote active learning by guiding students through problem-solving rather than giving direct answers.
Hoang concluded by discussing potential future developments, including the possibility of integrating Boodlebox with Canvas.
