[AI as a Partner for Autonomous Learning] Kyoto University of the Arts and XTech Management Co-develop 'Neighbuddy', an AI that Accompanies Thinking, and Implement it in Classes

Kyoto University of the Arts, together with the university-originated DX company XTech Management, has begun implementing 'Neighbuddy,' an AI that accompanies the thinking process of each student, in six departments and courses starting in the 2026 academic year. With the spread of generative AI making it easy to access answers before thinking, Neighbuddy does not simply provide answers; it supports the experience of deepening learning by staying close to the student's interests and background of thought. Through dialogue logs with the AI, the process of how students deepen their thinking can be visualized, allowing faculty to understand the students' trial-and-error process. This initiative is a pioneering case among Japanese universities as a new learning model for the AI era.