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In a first, UK school appoints AI in the role of ‘principal headteacher’

A private boarding school in the UK created the chatbot, Abigail Bailey, in collaboration with an AI developer.

Published on: Oct 17, 2023, 21:04:10 IST
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A school in southern England made an unusual addition to their staff - an AI. As per reports, the organisation appointed the AI chatbot as its ‘principal headteacher’. Named Abigail Bailey, the AI chatbot will work alongside the human headteacher of the school.

The chatbot is named Abigail Bailey (Representative image). (Pexels/Tara Winstead)
The chatbot is named Abigail Bailey (Representative image). (Pexels/Tara Winstead)

Cottesmore School made this unique addition to assist and support the school’s headmaster Tom Rogerson. The AI bot will be giving advice on a wide range of subjects, including how to support students and fellow teachers, reports the BBC. It will also help schoolchildren who have additional needs.

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What did Tom Rogerson say about his new colleague?

“Sometimes having someone or something there to help you is a very calming influence,” he told The Telegraph newspaper, reports the BBC. “Being a school leader, a headmaster, is a very lonely job. Of course, we have head teacher's groups but just having somebody or something on tap that can help you in this lonely place is very reassuring. It's nice to think that someone who is unbelievably well-trained is there to help you make decisions,” he added.

Also Read: Robot created from scratch using AI takes its very first ‘awkward’ steps

How will Abigail Bailey operate?

The private boarding school created the chatbot in collaboration with an AI developer. The children studying at the school will have personal access to the AI. With a similar working model as ChatGPT, Abigail Bailey will produce answers to the questions asked by the users.

  • Trisha Sengupta
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Trisha Sengupta

    Trisha Sengupta is a Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of digital newsroom experience. Specialising in high-engagement storytelling, she blends viral trends with traditional journalism to cover the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. Her reporting spans real estate and personal finance struggles in hubs like Bengaluru and Gurgaon, the NRI experience, and corporate shifts like tech layoffs. Trisha also frequently tracks global figures and writes human interest stories. Offline, Trisha is an avid reader, history enthusiast and solo traveler. She balances her journalism career with family life while actively integrating AI tools into her modern storytelling approach.Read More