Students Show Low Engagement with Khanmigo AI Tutor in Tennessee Middle Schools
A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Toronto, following students in 18 Tennessee middle schools from 2024 to 2026, indicates that most students did not want to use Khanmigo, Khan Academy's AI tutor. The study, circulated by the National Bureau of Economic Research, found that while almost all students initially tried Khanmigo, many stopped using it when the AI refused to provide direct answers and instead offered hints or asked guiding questions. This behavior was observed despite the AI being designed to act more like a human tutor, withholding answers and guiding students through problems. The researchers, Philip Oreopoulos and Nina Low, noted that students largely declined to seek help for their confusion from the AI tutor. The study focused on low-achieving students who were at least one grade level behind their peers and received extra remedial math periods. Some were assigned to use Khan Academy with Khanmigo available, while others received traditional remedial math work.
