College administrators are optimistic that AI could help tackle their political PR dilemmas, as the Department of Education leverages civil rights legislation to impose control over educational institutions under new directives from the Trump administration, while universities stifle student protests.
Columbia University in New York City is allegedly exploring an AI-driven student debate platform to foster more “civil” discussions on “sensitive” subjects such as abortion, immigration, transgender identities, and the humanitarian crisis in Palestine, according to The Verge. The institution has been piloting this tool at Columbia’s Teachers College as a component of a new conflict resolution curriculum.
The application, referred to as Sway, is a beta initiative created by Carnegie Mellon University postdoctoral researcher Nicholas DiBella. It has been trialed on 3,000 students from more than 30 colleges and universities, addressing polarizing topics like the legitimacy of the 2020 election. Sway seeks to mediate interactions between students with differing perspectives, urging them to discover common ground and reword potentially “disrespectful” expressions. DiBella observes that students frequently depart with “less confidence in their own views,” yet feel closer to their classmates.
DiBella has secured partial funding from the U.S. intelligence community for Sway as part of his doctoral studies, mentioning that it will “provide anonymized data to the public and the intelligence community, but not detailed transcripts or specifics.” Columbia associate professor Joseph Howley informed The Verge that Columbia is mishandling student tensions, with Sway serving as another instance. “What we have are strategies from corporate crisis management, policing, and law enforcement being applied to disagreement and dissent as if they are issues to be resolved rather than core values to be honored,” stated Howley.
Sway is not the initial tool Columbia has employed to alleviate student tensions (or purportedly suppress dissent). The university reportedly utilizes Khan Academy’s Schoolhouse Dialogues system to connect prospective students in debate-like discussions, assessed by “civility” and evaluated by Columbia admissions personnel.
In 2024, the university faced backlash for its militarized reaction to student protesters advocating for divestment from Israeli associations. Earlier this year, Columbia acquiesced to immigration officials, resulting in the arrest of international students under pressure from President Trump, subsequently disciplining protesters through suspensions, degree revocations, and expulsions. Columbia reached a $200 million settlement with the federal government in July, agreeing to provide student information to oversee protests and international students while encouraging “constructive dialogue.”