Online education platform MasterClass has launched a new mentoring service called ‘On Call’ that utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The service is designed to allow conversations with AI versions of famous instructors through web and iOS applications.
MasterClass will first feature AI personas from former FBI hostage negotiator Chris Vos and Berkeley neuroscientist Matt Walker, with plans to add AI models from a range of instructors, including Gordon Ramsay, Mark Cuban, Bill Nye, and LeBron Burton.
Oncall trained its AI based on data from experts’ private research materials, lectures, emails, etc. MasterClass has signed separate licensing agreements with instructors to use their voices and knowledge.
“This service is not just an AI chatbot based on internet data,” MasterClass CEO David Rozier said on social media. “It was developed based on expert, unpublished data and personal research.”
The OnCall service operates separately from MasterClass’ existing services and is available for a subscription fee of $10 per month or $84 per year. Users can now learn from instructors’ expertise and know-how in real time through AI.
The AI model uses voice technology to replicate conversations with real instructors, but some voices are still criticized as being unnatural. In particular, Chris Voss' AI voice was criticized as being somewhat mechanical.
