SME story: Interview with Youseff Youseff, COO and Muhammed Khalid, CEO of School Hack

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Tell us about the founding story of School Hack and how the idea came about.

School Hack was founded in January 2023. We realised that if students with learning disabilities had such a tool during their school years, it would help them showcase their intelligence despite learning disabilities such as dyslexia.

What motivated you to merge education technology with AI, and what benefits does this bring to students and educators?

Our personal experience inspired us to combine education technology with artificial intelligence (AI), creating School Hack. The platform utilises AI to relieve students of extra mental labour, personalise learning materials based on individual learning styles, and provide valuable insights to educators.

What makes your platform stand out from other educational technology platforms, and how do you differentiate yourselves in the market?

Our platform uses various forms of AI, not just ChatGPT, and has a sophisticated algorithm that helps students personalise their learning experience. Additionally, it offers educators a white-label version of the platform with a unique interface that not only monitors the use of AI, but also provides insight into how students are learning.

Walk us through a typical user experience on the platform.

A typical user experience on our platform starts with signing up and creating a profile. The platform then tailors learning materials based on the user’s preferences and learning style. The system adjusts and adapts in real-time based on the user’s learning progress.

What are some of the biggest challenges you face in the edtech industry?

One of the biggest challenges faced in the edtech industry is finding the right balance between technology and human interaction. We plan to overcome this by continuously improving the human-AI integration. Another significant challenge we face is convincing educators to embrace the use of AI in the classroom, showing them that it’s a valuable tool that can benefit both students and educators.

What are some future plans or developments you have in the pipeline, and how will they benefit your users?

In the future, we look forward to integrating more AI tools, creating even more personalised learning experiences for users. School Hack believes in controlling and monitoring AI to ensure it’s used ethically in the classroom.

What advice would you give to educators and entrepreneurs who are looking to incorporate AI into their teaching or business strategies?

The advice we would give is to start with a clear vision and objective. It’s also essential to have a team that understands the technology’s potential and limitations.

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