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

Harvard Business School's eight-week startup bootcamp, priced at $699, uses AI avatars created by a startup to give students feedback during practice pitches and board meetings, while live instructors lead weekly sessions. The avatars were designed after students in a trial version requested a more guided experience rather than a simple chatbot. Participants responded positively to the avatars despite some acknowledging they feel somewhat uncomfortable, with one instructor noting students appreciated the tool even though his digital copy struck him as "creepy." The program represents Harvard's effort to expand its reach by incorporating AI technology into its entrepreneurship training.