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Reading is a foundational step for education, and teaching literacy is no small feat. Microsoft’s latest AI is a Reading Coach “tutor” that will assist educators in improving literacy. Microsoft is far from the first to “gamify” learning to read; apps like ABCmouse and Endless Alphabet have existed for ages. However, the company is leveraging advances in AI to tackle literacy education with evolving stories. Best of all, the AI is free to use.Budding readers start by choosing to generate a new story, read an existing passage, or provide text. If the student generates a new story, the AI will offer main character options like a dog, dragon, or robot, followed by location choices. Once they’ve chosen, the AI will let them select a reading level and provide examples for each. The AI then generates a new story, and they can start reading aloud to it. If they’re using the Reading Coach from a browser (a Windows App is also available), they’ll have to give it microphone access, which the AI will listen to pronunciations and give feedback. The student can tell the AI what sections they’re having trouble with so it can help work on those issues. The AI will provide more options to continue generating narratives as the story progresses.If that sounds like too much work, pre-written narratives are available or the teacher could provide their own. That may be a safer option, given how AI has a tendency to hallucinate and go in unintended directions. Microsoft says it did put in guardrails to prevent that from happening, but it wouldn’t be the first time Microsoft promised a controlled AI only to be surprised with the results.
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Whether or not teachers actually embrace using AI in reading lessons remains to be seen, but it never hurts to have additional options—especially when the tool is free. How we teach reading is always evolving, and it’s possible AI could be a part of literacy learning in the future.
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