Greek University Introduces AI Tool for Reliable Academic Learning

Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH) has introduced an innovative artificial intelligence application designed exclusively for educational use, aiming to enhance academic learning with accuracy, transparency, and responsibility.

The university recently presented “AI Democritus,” an intelligent academic assistant developed to support students and professors while addressing concerns about the reliability of knowledge produced by general-purpose AI tools. The application operates strictly within the educational material of each course and functions as a controlled and trustworthy learning aid.

The AETMA Lab of the Department of Computer Science at DUTH developed the application under the scientific supervision of Professor Augustos Tsinakos. Speaking to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA), Tsinakos explained that the idea did not arise from the recent surge in AI popularity but from a long-standing need within higher education. He stressed that the challenge lay in using artificial intelligence correctly to provide meaningful support to the learning process.

Tsinakos identified inaccurate information as a major issue with general AI applications, warning that such tools often spread erroneous knowledge and undermine trust. He described this phenomenon as “information contamination” in the field of computer science. “AI Democritus” addresses this problem by generating answers exclusively from course materials and the instructor’s teaching content.

The application guarantees that students receive accurate answers aligned with the subject matter, while professors retain full control over the quality and validity of the information. According to Tsinakos, instructors maintain final responsibility for verifying knowledge, creating a more effective and reliable educational environment across higher, secondary, and primary education.

The platform does not complete assignments for students. Instead, it offers precise feedback to help them understand complex concepts and develop critical skills. At the same time, it allows educators to identify areas where students face difficulties, enabling continuous improvement of teaching materials.

The system trains automatically by scanning all available course resources, including textbooks, presentations, articles, and question-and-answer material uploaded to the university’s e-class platform. Any new content added by professors integrates into the application’s knowledge base within 24 hours. Each response includes documentation and clear references, allowing students to verify sources independently.

Democritus University offers the application free of charge, delivering significant economic benefits. Professor Tsinakos noted that comparable commercial solutions would cost millions of euros annually for an institution of DUTH’s size. He emphasised that the greatest benefit lies not only in cost savings but in owning the technology and knowledge, allowing continuous adaptation to educational needs.

Graduates Konstantinos Anastasiou and Charalampos Kapakis played a key role in developing the application, contributing at both technical and scientific levels. The university administration actively supported the project, with Rector Professor Fotios Maris and Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Lifelong Learning Professor Maria Grigoriou facilitating access to the institution’s supercomputing infrastructure.

Professor Nikolaos Makris, President of the Department of Psychology, along with faculty members and students, also provided valuable feedback. As a result, the Department of Psychology became the first in Greece to offer free access to the application to all its students and academic staff.

Professor Tsinakos concluded that the success of “AI Democritus” reflects collective collaboration rather than individual effort, highlighting cooperation between university leadership, faculty, and students as key to shaping an optimistic future for education.