C-Suite Perspectives On AI: Felix Ohswald Of GoStudent On Where to Use AI and Where to Rely Only on Humans
An Interview With Kieran Powell
The landscape of AI and education is constantly evolving. Staying informed and adaptable is crucial. When we first incorporated AI into our platform, we envisioned a certain trajectory for its development. However, as technology and educational needs evolved, so did our approach. This adaptability has been vital in our success, allowing us to refine our use of AI continuously and ensure it meets the changing needs of students and tutors.
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to advance and integrate into various aspects of business, decision-makers at the highest levels face the complex task of determining where AI can be most effectively utilized and where the human touch remains irreplaceable. This series seeks to explore the nuanced decisions made by C-Suite executives regarding the implementation of AI in their operations. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Felix Ohswald.
Felix Ohswald is the co-founder and CEO of GoStudent, one of the world’s leading tutoring providers and education platforms. In co-founding GoStudent, Felix’s goal is to use the best of tech to unlock the full potential of every child. In March 2023, Felix was named on the Forbes Europe 30 under 30 Technology list.
Thank you so much for your time! I know that you are a very busy person. Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’ and how you got started?
Of course — I was born in 1995 and grew up in Vienna, Austria. I was always a curious child and from an early age I loved to learn. This passion saw me attend university early when I completed a Mathematics degree alongside my wider school studies. When I was 18, I traveled to the UK to study for a second Mathematics degree, at the University of Cambridge, before moving to Switzerland to complete my master’s degree in Quantitative Finance at ETH Zurich.
While studying for my masters, I was tutoring math alongside my studies and was surprised by how many students were seeking external support. It made me realize how valuable tailored one-on-one tutoring could be. I shared this insight with my friend and GoStudent’s co-founder and COO, Gregor Müller and, in 2016, GoStudent was founded.
We started out offering 1:1 support, and over the past eight years, we have evolved to provide academic support to students in a 1:1, group, online and offline setting. We also offer language learning in VR, which students love. We clearly see the opportunities that technology can create for the education industry and are excited to continue harnessing the best of tech to unlock each student’s potential.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
When we first launched our business model — 1–1 online tutoring memberships — we did it in a self-service fashion. Parents got matched to a tutor, tried a trial session and then in theory they purchased a membership. All sounds straightforward! But actually, it was a complete disaster. We had so much interest, yet no one converted. Desperate to understand, we started calling up parents — that’s when they told us they had no idea it was in-person tutoring, and that they already found a local person.
We quickly realised that we were in a tech bubble, and that education is very local and parents: this was pre-pandemic, and lessons were always in person. We learnt that in order for parents to understand the value of what we offered, we needed to talk to them from the get-go. And so it was that we pivoted to a consultative model.
Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that will help people?
Absolutely! We’re currently exploring several ways to transform the learning experience — but one of our most exciting projects is the development of GoStudent Learning.
GoStudent Learning provides interactive, curriculum-specific content, enabling students to self-study between tutoring lessons. Our algorithm is able to analyze a student’s performance and learning habits, and we can adapt the difficulty and style of questions in real time. This method has been shown to help students learn up to twice as fast compared to traditional study methods. The immediacy and adaptability of the platform engage students in a more profound and interactive learning experience, making education both effective and enjoyable.
We are particularly proud of Amelia, our curriculum-trained AI-powered learning assistant, that sits within the GoStudent Learning platform. Amelia is designed to be an on-demand study assistant, available 24/7, providing students with instant access to revision materials, explanations, and support. She ensures that students are never without guidance, and this constant availability helps to reduce stress and improve confidence among learners, knowing they have a reliable resource at their fingertips.
Ultimately, GoStudent Learning aims to make education more accessible and engaging. We’re not just teaching students; we’re equipping them with the tools to discover and fulfil their potential on their own terms.
Thank you for that. Let’s now shift to the central focus of our discussion. In your experience, what have been the most challenging aspects of integrating AI into your business operations, and how have you balanced these with the need to preserve human-centric roles?
To be honest, we’re still exploring how best to balance the opportunity that AI offers with the innate understanding that certain roles — like that of a human teacher — cannot be replaced. For me, the question that must be asked is “can AI make the user experience better”? In other words, can AI make us, as humans, more effective so that our employees, or the tutors that choose to use GoStudent, benefit. When the answer is yes, then we should explore how to use AI.
Here’s an example. We know that tutors typically spend 10–15 minutes preparing for each tutoring lesson. Yet, each lesson is prepared based on the standard curriculum. We realised that if we used AI to generate lesson plans, based on the level, age and school system of the child, this would save tutors an immense amount of time — freeing them up to do what they do best: teach!
We apply this internally, too. We are harnessing AI to improve efficiency within our operations team. AI can accelerate our team’s ability to serve customers more quickly, which is a huge driver for our business.
Can you share a specific instance where AI initially seemed like the optimal solution but ultimately proved less effective than human intervention? What did this experience teach you about the limitations of AI in your field?
By early 2023, AI had become a buzzword that you couldn’t escape. Since its launch, ChatGPT has undoubtedly changed how students learn and, last year, it became the priority of education companies worldwide to understand how they could harness AI to their advantage. For many, this meant exploring how AI could educate students. This felt logical — if kids were turning to ChatGPT for study help, how could we utilise the same technology to add true value to these learners?
One big discussion was around creating AI teachers, and if this could be a solution to the current teacher shortage. According to recent figures from UNESCO, Europe needs around 4.8 million more teachers to ensure every child receives a quality education. On paper, this makes a lot of sense — particularly given AI’s capacity for personalization, scalability, and availability. However, our journey and subsequent findings, particularly highlighted in our recently published Future of Education Report, brought a crucial realization to the forefront: technology, specifically AI, cannot replace human teachers. What it can do, however, is support them.
Our Report’s findings — based on the opinion of more than 5,580 students — showed us that a child’s favorite subjects are those taught by their favorite teachers. This emphasises just how vital role models are, and how critical real passion for teaching is when it comes to creating engaging learning environments that foster curiosity, creativity, and a love for learning.
The reality is, human teachers excel in fostering a sense of belonging, understanding complex student emotions, and adapting their teaching methods to suit the mood and atmosphere of the classroom. These are aspects of teaching and learning that AI, in its current form, cannot replicate. AI can provide tailored learning experiences, instant feedback, and a wealth of information at one’s fingertips, but it cannot replicate the empathy, inspiration, and genuine connection that human teachers offer.
Understanding this, our approach at GoStudent has evolved to focus on ensuring that technology serves to enhance rather than replace the irreplaceable human touch in education. This experience reinforced our belief that while AI can transform education in many ways, the heart and soul of learning lie in the human connections and interactions that inspire and motivate students.
How do you navigate the ethical implications of implementing AI in your company, especially concerning potential job displacement and ensuring ethical AI usage?
In harnessing certain tools, AI can help our business to be more profitable and significantly improve margins. This in turn allows us to spend more on research and development and on scaling the business — therefore creating more jobs in the long term.
The question cannot be viewed from the status quo but must be analyzed from a long-term perspective. Businesses that don’t evolve with technology innovation will be more likely to fail, causing a far greater impact on job loss. The roles we seek may change as tech evolves, but there will always be invaluable positions to be filled.
Could you describe a successful instance in your company where AI and human skills were synergistically combined to achieve a result that neither could have accomplished alone?
I know I’ve already discussed it, but for me the best example is Amelia, our AI-powered study assistant. Learning happens all the time, and teachers have limited time. AI can fill that gap to work hand in hand with educators to support a child 24/7.
Based on your experience and success, what are the “5 Things To Keep in Mind When Deciding Where to Use AI and Where to Rely Only on Humans, and Why?” How have these 5 things impacted your work or your career?
1. Understand the Limitations of AI
AI is a powerful tool but it’s not a silver bullet. It excels at processing data, identifying patterns, and automating repetitive tasks. However, AI lacks the ability to understand context in the way humans can, especially when it comes to emotional intelligence and ethical decision-making. For instance, in developing our AI chatbot Amelia, we realized that while it could provide immediate, data-driven responses to academic queries, it couldn’t replace the motivational and emotional support a human tutor offers. This understanding led us to clearly see AI as a complement to human instruction, not a replacement.
2. Don’t Underestimate The Importance of Human Empathy
Empathy and the human touch are irreplaceable in many sectors, especially education. A story that underscores this occurred when a student, initially struggling with mathematics, flourished under a tutor who recognized his potential and encouraged his curiosity beyond the curriculum. This transformation was not just about conveying mathematical concepts but about building confidence and a love for learning, something AI currently cannot replicate. It reinforced our belief in the indispensable role of human teachers in inspiring and nurturing students.
3. View AI as a Tool for Augmentation
AI should be viewed as a tool to augment human capabilities, not replace them. In our operations, AI-driven analytics have enabled us to personalize learning at scale, providing insights into individual learning patterns that help tutors tailor their approach. This symbiosis of AI and human insight has led to more effective learning outcomes, showcasing how AI can enhance the educational process when used to support, not supplant, human expertise.
4 . Be Open to Continuous Learning and Adaptation
The landscape of AI and education is constantly evolving. Staying informed and adaptable is crucial. When we first incorporated AI into our platform, we envisioned a certain trajectory for its development. However, as technology and educational needs evolved, so did our approach. This adaptability has been vital in our success, allowing us to refine our use of AI continuously and ensure it meets the changing needs of students and tutors.
5. Use AI to improve internal processes and supercharge your business.
In the future, companies with few people will be able to serve millions of customers with the power of AI. This means that businesses will be able to be dreamed up far more readily, with less reliance on investment to make them a reality. This advancement will create a whole generation of innovators. Humans will still drive these businesses and improve the processes their company follows, but they will harness AI to provide best in class service at a wider scale. By adjusting to this mindset, workplaces of today can encourage every employee to have this entrepreneurial approach. We’ve seen first-hand how our teams are benefitting from this way of thinking.
Looking towards the future, in which areas of your business do you foresee AI making the most significant impact, and conversely, in which areas do you believe a human touch will remain indispensable?
If we look again at The GoStudent Future of Education Report, an incredible 3 in 4 children believe that technology allows them to learn anything they want. And I agree with them. Technology has such huge potential, and it is the responsibility of EdTech providers like us to ensure we make this possible. What is critical here is that AI-driven learning tools are created that make sense for those using them: the students and the teachers. Critically, the tech needs to meet their needs.
A key way to do this is to harness AI to better support educators. Our report also showed us that 62% of parents and half of teachers think hybrid and blended learning techniques could be a practical solution to the teacher shortage — with these learning tools, enabling educators to create personalised learning experiences for their students that are tailored to their needs.
It isn’t only us that sees this. Brighteye Ventures’ European EdTech Funding Report 2024 notes that venture capital investment is increasingly directed toward teacher support tools, a trend that underscores the growing recognition of AI’s role in supporting curriculum development, administrative efficiency, and interactive educational content.
That said, I truly believe that the human touch remains irreplaceable in several aspects of education. Teachers and tutors play an irreplaceable role in inspiring students, a factor that technology cannot replicate or replace.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
Building on Benjamin Franklin’s words, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” My vision for a transformative movement would center on truly democratizing education. The essence of this movement would be to ensure that millions of children worldwide have access to quality, affordable education, irrespective of their socioeconomic status or geographical location. This mission has been the cornerstone of my journey with GoStudent over the past eight years, driving our efforts to leverage technology in breaking down the barriers that restrict educational access.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Please follow GoStudent on LinkedIn! We regularly share updates and would love for you to join our community. Please also check out the GoStudent Future of Education Report 2024 — it really digs into what students want from AI.
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!
About The Interviewer: Kieran Powell is the EVP of Channel V Media a New York City Public Relations agency with a global network of agency partners in over 30 countries. Kieran has advised more than 150 companies in the Technology, B2B, Retail and Financial sectors. Prior to taking over business operations at Channel V Media, Kieran held roles at Merrill Lynch, PwC and Ernst & Young. Get in touch with Kieran to discuss how marketing and public relations can be leveraged to achieve concrete business goals.
C-Suite Perspectives On AI: Felix Ohswald Of GoStudent On Where to Use AI and Where to Rely Only on… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.