Harvard’s $699 startup bootcamp offers AI avatars of its instructors

哈佛大学推出 699 美元的创业训练营，提供讲师 AI 数字人服务

As Harvard Business School seeks to expand its reach, it’s leaning on AI avatars to provide individual feedback. These avatars were created by a startup called HeyGen and are included in the eight-week, $699 HBS Foundry bootcamp for entrepreneurs. 随着哈佛商学院寻求扩大其影响力，该学院正借助 AI 数字人（AI avatars）来提供个性化反馈。这些数字人由初创公司 HeyGen 创建，并被纳入为期八周、收费 699 美元的 HBS Foundry 创业训练营中。

The program offers live sessions with instructors every week, but the AI avatars are the ones providing feedback during practice pitches and board meetings. 该项目每周提供与讲师的实时课程，但在模拟路演和董事会会议期间，则由 AI 数字人负责提供反馈。

New York Times reporter Sarah Kessler actually tried this out herself by pitching an AI-generated copy of Flybridge Capital co-founder Jeff Bussgang. Apparently, both the real Bussgang and his simulacra were unimpressed by her plan to build “Uber for bananas,” but Kessler said the virtual version offered a noticeably frozen smile during her pitch. 《纽约时报》记者 Sarah Kessler 亲自体验了这一功能，她向 Flybridge Capital 联合创始人 Jeff Bussgang 的 AI 复制品进行了路演。显然，无论是真实的 Bussgang 本人还是他的数字分身，对她提出的“香蕉版 Uber”计划都不太感兴趣，但 Kessler 表示，在路演过程中，虚拟版本露出了一个明显的僵硬微笑。

Project director Katharina Rings said she initially envisioned the AI component as something closer to a chatbot. However, after HBS released a trial version, students said they wanted a more guided experience. 项目总监 Katharina Rings 表示，她最初设想的 AI 组件更接近于聊天机器人。然而，在哈佛商学院发布试用版后，学生们表示他们希望获得更具引导性的体验。

And while some college students haven’t been shy about expressing their negative feelings towards AI, Foundry participants told Kessler they like the avatars. As for Bussgang, he acknowledged his digital copy is a little “creepy,” but he said, “My students love it.” 尽管一些大学生毫不掩饰对 AI 的负面情绪，但 Foundry 的参与者告诉 Kessler，他们很喜欢这些数字人。至于 Bussgang，他承认自己的数字复制品确实有点“诡异”，但他表示：“我的学生们很喜欢它。”