{{Short description|Chatbot developed by the Los Angeles Unified School District}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox software | title = Ed | logo = Ed (LAUSD) logo.png | logo caption = | screenshot = | collapsible =yes | screenshot_size = | caption = | developer = Los Angeles Unified School District and AllHere Education | released = {{start date|2024|03|20}} | latest release version = | latest preview date = | operating system = | replaces = | genre = Chatbot | license = | website = {{URL|https://www.lausd.org/ed}} }} '''Ed''' was a chatbot co-developed by the Los Angeles Unified School District and AllHere Education. Described as a learning acceleration platform, it was the first personal assistant for students in the United States. Part of the district's Individual Acceleration Plan, it was able to interact with students both verbally and visually, offering support in 100 languages. The chatbot was launched on March 20, 2024, as part of the district's plan for academic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and to improve overall academic performance. Utilizing artificial intelligence, Ed organizes data and reports on grades, test scores, and attendance, creating individualized plans for each student. After the company behind it, AllHere, collapsed, the district shuttered operations of the chatbot on June 14, 2024. The firm is under investigation by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.
== History == On February 14, 2022, Alberto M. Carvalho became the Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, pledging to give the district a full academic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailynews.com/2023/08/04/lausd-superintendent-vows-to-boost-attendance-accelerate-learning-this-fall/|title= LAUSD superintendent vows to boost attendance, accelerate learning this fall |date=August 4, 2023|website=Los Angeles Daily News|author=Harter, Clara}}</ref> In December 2022, he announced the Individual Acceleration Plan for the district, which aimed to provide each student with a unique progress report and help them determine if they were on track to graduate.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-12-21/all-l-a-students-to-receive-individual-academic-plan|title=L.A. students and their parents to get unique road map to improve academic weaknesses|website=Los Angeles Times|date=December 21, 2022|author=Blume, Howard}}</ref> The district faced criticism from disability advocates for its management of Individualized Education Programs, and in April 2022, the United States Department of Education announced that the district had failed to provide appropriate educational services to students with disabilities during the pandemic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-04-28/lausd-failed-disabled-students-under-remote-learning-during-pandemic-investigation-finds|title=LAUSD failed students with disabilities during pandemic, federal investigation finds |date=April 28, 2022|author=Esquivel, Paloma; Gomez, Melissa|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/la-west/education/2022/04/28/feds-fault-lausd-services-for-disabled-students-during-covid-shutdowns|title=Feds fault LAUSD services for disabled students during COVID shutdowns|date=April 28, 2022|website=Spectrum News}}</ref> The district had been grappling with significant absenteeism issues since the pandemic, which led to declining academic performance and disengagement among students.<ref name = tou>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-07-03/lausds-highly-touted-ai-chatbot-to-help-students-fails-to-deliver|title=LAUSD shelves its hyped AI chatbot to help students after collapse of firm that made it |date=July 3, 2024|website=Los Angeles Times|author=Blume, Howard}}</ref> On February 17, 2023, the district issued a request for proposals to develop a fully integrated portal system. Later that year, they signed a $6 million, five-year contract with AllHere Education, a Boston-based company founded in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://marketbrief.edweek.org/strategy-operations/lausd-and-allhere-4-takeaways-amid-new-doubts-about-the-far-reaching-ai-project/2024/07|title=LAUSD and AllHere: 4 Takeaways Amid New Doubts About the Far-Reaching AI Project|date=July 2, 2024|author=Fittes, Emma Kate|website=Education Week}}</ref> The introduction of Ed follows the public launch of ChatGPT, which has been utilized by both teachers and students in educational settings.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.edweek.org/technology/los-angeles-unified-bets-big-on-ed-an-ai-tool-for-students/2024/03|title=Los Angeles Unified Bets Big on 'Ed,' an AI Tool for Students|website=Education Week|date=March 21, 2024|author=Langreo, Lauraine}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://districtadministration.com/meet-ed-l-a-unifieds-new-artificially-intelligent-student-advisor/|title=Meet 'Ed,' L.A. Unified's new artificially intelligent student advisor|date=August 8, 2023|author=Ward, Micah|website=District Administration}}</ref>
On August 4, 2023, during an annual address at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Carvalho and the Los Angeles Unified School District announced the launch of Ed. The district invested $4 million into the chatbot, with Carvalho noting that this cost would be halved thanks to donor and grant funding.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-08-04/lausd-introduces-ed-the-chatbot-as-its-newest-student-advisor|title='Ed' an AI chatbot will be LAUSD's newest student advisor, Carvalho says in splashy show |date=August 4, 2023|author=Blume, Howard|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> The chatbot was launched on March 20, 2024.<ref name = depl>{{cite web|url=https://laist.com/news/education/la-unified-deploys-ed-ai-chatbot-students-parents|title= LAUSD Deploys 'Ed,' An AI Chatbot For Students And Parents |date=March 20, 2024|author=Yu, Elly|website=LAist}}</ref> Following its launch, a press conference was held to address security and technology concerns. Carvalho stated that the district had collaborated with security companies and incorporated filters to screen for threatening language.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abc7.com/lausd-unveils-ed-new-ai-personal-assistant-tool-for-students-los-angeles-education/14550738/|title=LAUSD unveils ED, new AI 'personal assistant' tool for students|date=March 20, 2024|author=Mackey, Ashley|website=ABC7}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://marketbrief.edweek.org/marketplace-k-12/lessons-ed-tech-companies-lausds-far-reaching-ai-experiment/|title=Lessons for Ed-Tech Companies in LAUSD's Far-Reaching AI Experiment|author=Ng, Alexandria|date=April 18, 2024|website=Education Week}}</ref>
Months after its launch, AllHere Education furloughed most of its staff on June 14, citing their “current financial position” on its website as the reason. After learning about the furlough, the district terminated its dealings with AllHere Education. However, it stated its intention to bring the chatbot back in the future once officials determine the best course of action.<ref name = tou/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/01/us/ai-chatbot-los-angeles-schools.html|title=A.I. 'Friend' for Public School Students Falls Flat|author=Goldstein, Dana|date=July 1, 2024|website=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-07-11/supt-carvalho-says-its-full-speed-ahead-with-troubled-ai-effort-in-l-a-unified|title=Supt. Carvalho moves ahead with troubled AI effort despite collapse of tech contractor |website=Los Angeles Times|date=July 11, 2024|author=Blume, Howard}}</ref> Carvalho announced that he would appoint an independent task force to review what went wrong with AllHere Education and the chatbot.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-07-23/carvalho-will-appoint-task-force-after-collapse-of-company-that-created-lausd-ai-chatbot|title=Carvalho, who unplugged school AI chatbot, wants task force to tell him what went wrong|date=July 23, 2024|author=Blume, Howard|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>
On February 25, 2026, the FBI served a search warrant on Carvalho’s home and office in connection with AllHere.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mejia |first=Brittny |last2=Winton |first2=Richard |last3=Vives |first3=Ruben |last4=Blume |first4=Howard |date=2026-02-25 |title=FBI raids of LAUSD Supt. Alberto Carvalho's home and office appear tied to AI chatbot probe |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-02-25/fbi-raid-lausd-search-warrants |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> The FBI also raided the LAUSD's headquarters.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hubler |first1=Shawn |last2=Goldstein |first2=Dana |last3=Mervosh |first3=Sarah |title=F.B.I. Raids Home of L.A.U.S.D. Chief Alberto Carvalho and School District Offices |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/25/us/fbi-raid-lausd-alberto-carvalho.html |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=February 25, 2026 |date=February 25, 2026}}</ref>
== Service == The chatbot was described as a personal assistant and a "one-stop shop for parents and students" who want to see information about a student's attendance and grades, as well as other resources from the district.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://insider.govtech.com/california/news/lausd-builds-proprietary-ai-assistant-for-students-parents|title=LAUSD Builds Proprietary AI Assistant for Students, Parents |date=March 22, 2024|author=Gifford, Aaron|website=Government Technology}}</ref> Additionally, the application can function as an alarm clock, provide daily lunch menus from the school cafeteria, and offer updates on the location of school buses.<ref name = depl/> The chatbot also helps students and parents who do not speak English as their first language by translating displayed information into approximately 100 different languages. The application can also help with submitting applications and give updates on progress and upcoming assignments.<ref name = advisor>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-03-21/new-ai-tool-in-education-aspires-to-have-all-the-answers-for-l-a-students|title=LAUSD's new student advisor is an AI bot that designs academic plans, suggests books|date=March 21, 2024|author=Blume, Howard|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> The district stated that the primary goal of Ed was to actively motivate students to complete homework and other tasks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/second-largest-us-school-district-taps-ai-to-reach-non-english-speaking|title=Second Largest US School District Taps AI to Reach Non-English-Speaking Students|website=PCMag|date=March 22, 2024|author=Dreibelbis, Emily}}</ref>
== Reception == The chatbot received a mostly positive reception among parents and observers upon its launch. Some parents and teachers expressed caution about the technology, voicing concerns that the district's push for its implementation lacked public accountability.<ref name = advisor/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2024-03-22-meet-ed-lausds-new-ai-tool-for-students/|title=Meet ED, LAUSD's New AI Tool for Students|website=IHeartMedia|author=Arabian, Lindsey|date=March 22, 2024}}</ref> Rob Nelson from the University of Pennsylvania described the district's strategy as risky, saying that the release felt "like the beginning of a Clippy-level disaster".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.edsurge.com/news/2024-05-02-los-angeles-school-district-launched-a-splashy-ai-chatbot-what-exactly-does-it-do|title=Los Angeles School District Launched a Splashy AI Chatbot. What Exactly Does It Do?|date=May 2, 2024|author=Young, Jeffrey R.|website=EdSurge}}</ref> After the chatbot's shutdown, ''The 74'' criticized it for misusing student data.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the74million.org/article/chatbot-los-angeles-whistleblower-allhere-ai/|title=L.A. Schools Probe Charges its Hyped, Now-Defunct AI Chatbot Misused Student Data|date= July 10, 2024|author=Keierleber, Mark|website=The 74}}</ref> Chris Whiteley, a former software engineer at AllHere Education, alleged that the data collected by the chatbot likely violated the district's data privacy rules.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.edsurge.com/news/2024-07-15-an-education-chatbot-company-collapsed-where-did-the-student-data-go|title=An Education Chatbot Company Collapsed. Where Did the Student Data Go? |date=July 15, 2024|author=Young, Jeffery R.|website=EdSurge}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
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Category:2024 software Category:Chatbots Category:Virtual assistants Category:Los Angeles Unified School District