Harvard Business School’s new $699 startup bootcamp is turning to AI avatars of its instructors to provide personalized feedback, marking one of the more prominent experiments by an elite institution in using generative AI for education. The eight-week HBS Foundry program, which launched this year, uses digital replicas created by the AI video startup HeyGen to critique students during practice pitches and simulated board meetings.
The avatars work alongside weekly live sessions with real faculty. New York Times reporter Sarah Kessler tested the system herself, pitching an AI-generated copy of Flybridge Capital co-founder Jeff Bussgang on an idea for “Uber for bananas.” Both the real Bussgang and his digital twin were unimpressed, but Kessler noted the virtual version displayed a noticeably frozen smile during her presentation.
From Chatbot to Guided AI Feedback
The program’s project director, Katharina Rings, said the AI component initially was conceived as something closer to a standard chatbot. But after HBS released a trial version, students indicated they wanted a more structured, guided experience rather than open-ended text conversations. The pivot to HeyGen’s avatar technology reflects a broader shift in edtech toward more immersive, conversational AI interfaces.
The avatars are not designed to replace human instruction. Instead, they give students the ability to practice high-stakes scenarios repeatedly without needing to coordinate schedules with busy faculty members and venture capitalists. For an audience of founders, the appeal is the opportunity to rehearse investor pitches and boardroom presentations in a low-pressure environment.
Also read: Frontier AI Labs Fall Short on Public Rogue-Model Containment Plans, Study Finds
Mixed Reactions, Strong Engagement
While college students at other institutions have sometimes voiced strong opposition to AI in the classroom, Foundry participants told Kessler they appreciate the avatars. Bussgang, whose digital likeness is featured in the program, acknowledged the technology feels a little “creepy” but said his students love it.
The initiative is part of a wider push by Harvard Business School to expand its reach beyond traditional degree programs. By offering a relatively affordable, short-form bootcamp, the school is competing with a crowded field of online entrepreneurship courses from platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and Y Combinator’s Startup School.
What This Means for AI in Education
The HBS experiment arrives as universities and corporate training programs increasingly test the limits of generative AI. HeyGen, which specializes in realistic avatar video generation, has positioned itself as a tool for corporate communications and marketing, but education is becoming a growing use case.
For entrepreneurs considering the program, the key takeaway is the evolving nature of feedback in a world where AI can simulate the reactions of experienced investors. The avatars are not yet indistinguishable from their human counterparts — the frozen smile Kessler observed is a reminder of the technology’s limitations. But the program signals that even elite institutions see AI avatars as a scalable way to deliver individualized attention.
As the bootcamp continues through 2026, the question is whether the novelty will wear off and whether the feedback quality will improve. For now, HBS appears committed to the experiment, betting that a digital Bussgang is better than no Bussgang at all.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The education technology market is volatile and evolving; prospective students should evaluate programs based on their own needs.
Be the first to comment