At ICEF Berlin 2024, Jamie Gibbs, Edvisor’s Commercial Director, delivered one of the event's most anticipated sessions: “Real-world AI Applications in International Education.” 

In his presentation, Jamie explored how artificial intelligence (AI) is not only revolutionizing the world at large but also reshaping the education sector with practical tools that schools, agencies, and providers can adopt to enhance efficiency and productivity.

Here are the key highlights from his presentation.

AI in Our Daily Lives

Jamie began by illustrating how AI has become integral to our daily lives. 

“AI is transforming the world around us. From Siri and Alexa to Netflix recommendations and Spotify playlists, it's everywhere. It's helping us be more efficient and intuitive in our daily lives. But sometimes, these innovations feel like they’ve jumped straight out of a sci-fi movie.”

This contrast between the familiar and the futuristic highlights AI's potential to revolutionize our personal and professional lives.

What is Artificial Intelligence?

To set the stage, Jamie provided a foundational explanation of AI, quoting Marvin Minsky's definition: “The ability of a machine to perform tasks that would normally require human intelligence.”

“Problem-solving, understanding language, recognizing patterns, and learning from experience. Through machine learning, AI systems don’t just follow programmed instructions; they evolve and improve over time.”

Jamie also touched on the history of AI, from Alan Turing’s question in the 1950s—“Can machines think?”—to modern machine learning, where AI systems continuously improve with repeated tasks.

Eye-Catching Examples of AI

One of the more engaging moments of the session was Jamie’s discussion of some of the most fascinating uses of AI:

Deepfakes exemplify AI's advanced capabilities in generating hyper-realistic content. This technology produces lifelike videos by using two neural networks—one to create and another to evaluate realism. While often linked to entertainment, its principles can be adapted to create avatars or other engaging digital tools for businesses.

Another fascinating example is Sophia, the humanoid robot developed by Hanson Robotics. Sophia is designed to hold conversations, learn from interactions, and recognize emotions, making her a symbol of AI’s ability to create human-like connections. 

Jamie also discussed Fit Iana, a virtual influencer created by a Spanish agency. This AI-generated model has secured sponsorship deals, demonstrating how virtual personas can redefine marketing strategies by offering constant adaptability and limitless scalability.

Though these examples might seem futuristic, Jamie emphasized their relevance and the lessons they hold for practical AI applications in business.

Practical Tools for Businesses

Shifting gears, Jamie highlighted accessible AI tools that businesses can leverage to improve workflows and productivity. Among his top picks:

• ChatGPT is an invaluable tool for tasks like brainstorming, refining emails, and simplifying complex documents. Its versatility makes it an essential addition to any professional toolkit, particularly for educators and marketers seeking to streamline daily operations.

• Synthesia: A tool Edvisor used to create multilingual training videos, saving hours of manual work. 

Jamie shared a compelling example of how Edvisor used Synthesia while partnering with GuardMe Europe. 

“Three months ago, we faced a challenge: training hundreds of partners on GuardMe Europe’s insurance product without overwhelming our team. Using Synthesia, we created an online training program in multiple languages, reducing the process to just 12 minutes.”

Innovations Powered by AI at Edvisor

Edvisor has integrated AI across its processes to enhance both user experience and operational efficiency. Examples include:

Brochure Brain: Automating Accuracy

Manually updating price lists and program details is time-consuming and error-prone. Brochure Brain, powered by machine learning, automates this process by inputting data, detecting discrepancies, and learning from errors to prevent them in the future. This ensures that Edvisor’s pricing information is consistently accurate, saving time and reducing manual effort.

Chatbot EDU: Streamlining Interactions

Repetitive inquiries, such as pricing, visa requirements, and start dates, often overwhelm school marketers. Chatbot EDU efficiently handles these tasks with 24/7 availability and multilingual support, allowing teams to focus on building relationships and driving sales.

Beyond basic inquiries, EDU also allows students to generate personalized quotations. 

"For example, a student can specify their nationality, desired program duration, and start date, and EDU will provide a tailored quote using Edvisor’s pricing API. This capability makes the chatbot an invaluable tool for students and agencies, delivering quick and accurate responses while freeing up staff to focus on strategic tasks."

Select Edvisor schools are already testing this feature and it will be widely available very soon 🤫

Getting Started with AI

Jamie concluded his session with actionable advice for implementing AI in your organization:

1. Define clear objectives: Identify small inefficiencies that AI could solve in your processes.

2. Involve your team early: Address concerns and highlight how AI enhances, rather than replaces, their work.

3. Start small and think big: Begin with small-scale solutions and gradually expand their use as you see results.

“AI is here to stay, and it’s time to embrace it. Start small—identify inefficiencies and adopt tools that make your day-to-day easier. Remember, AI isn’t about replacing people; it’s about empowering them to work smarter and more efficiently.”

The Future of International Education with AI

Jamie left the audience with a powerful takeaway: AI is no longer a glimpse into the future—it’s a tool for the present. By enhancing efficiency, improving workflows, and enabling innovation, AI is poised to transform not just individual businesses but the entire education industry.