ALX unveils ‘Chidi’, a first-of-its-kind AI mentor for young learners

ALX Rwanda has introduced ‘Chidi’, a ground-breaking AI learning companion built in partnership with Anthropic and the Government of Rwanda, marking one of Africa’s largest AI-for-education deployments. ALSO READ: Is AI helping or hurting Rwanda’s future graduates? ALX is a major tech training and career accelerator that equips young Africans with the skills and mind-set needed to succeed in fast-growing fields like technology, business, and leadership, while Anthropic is an AI research and development company focused on creating reliable and responsible AI systems. Its flagship model, ‘Claude’, supports safe and practical AI applications across industries, and the company works globally to expand access to AI and strengthen education through technology. Designed as a “Socratic mentor” rather than an answer-giving Chabot, ‘Chidi’ aims to reshape how students think, learn, and build confidence at scale across the continent. The launch took place on November 17 in Kigali, where ALX unveiled the tool as part of its mission to equip young Africans with cutting-edge skills in technology and problem-solving. ‘Chidi’ is already in use, having facilitated thousands of learning sessions since its soft rollout earlier this month. Unlike typical AI systems that provide instant responses, this new tool guides learners through questions, prompting deeper reflection and independent reasoning. It is built on ‘Claude’, Anthropic’s advanced AI model known for its safety and reliability. It supports coding, data science, and a range of technical disciplines, while integrating seamlessly with ALX’s learning content. ALSO READ: Rwanda to develop 50 AI tools across various sectors: official Speaking at the launch, Fred Swaniker, the founder and CEO of ALX and Sand Technologies, said the tool represents a shift from passive consumption to active engagement. “Learning should really be about engagement, and if something just gives you the answers, it makes you brain-dumb,” he said. “This one is exciting, it stimulates you, challenges you, in a way that if you truly want to learn, you are going to learn much more with this method than from someone simply telling you the answers.” The tool will be deployed to more than 200,000 ALX learners across Africa, a step Swaniker says will help shape a generation capable of driving the continent’s technological transformation. ALX sees the tutor as a foundation for future AI-integrated programmes, including AI-enabled assessments, co-designed curricula, and career guidance tools built on real-time learning analytics. ALSO READ: Experts say data science, collaboration key to driving AI adoption in Africa The government has positioned the initiative within its broader national vision to cultivate an AI-ready workforce. Through the ministries of ICT and Innovation and Education, the government will integrate ‘Chidi’ into teacher training and selected public institutions. Up to 2,000 teachers and civil servants will participate in the first phase, gaining skills to use AI responsibly in classrooms and administrative work. Paula Ingabire, the Minister of ICT and Innovation, said the project aligns with the country’s demographic priorities. “We find it very exciting as we launch this partnership,” she said. “When we look at 40 per cent of our young people being under 18, imagine what that looks like for Rwanda, not only as a priority but as an opportunity to learn and upskill themselves in many ways.” She added that responsible use of AI remains central to Rwanda’s strategy. “When it comes to responsible AI, I cannot find better partners for us than the government. We want to put youth in the right environment and ensure that we can leverage technology for growth and development.” Ingabire noted that Chidi’s design, guiding learners instead of providing ready-made answers, mirrors the country’s ambition to shape a competitive workforce. “With Chidi, we will be able to build the competitive youth workforce that we wish Rwanda to have as we go forward.” ALSO READ: Rwanda speeds up AI integration into learning, teaching Representing the Ministry of Education, Pascal Gatabazi, Chief Technical Advisor, stated that the partnership will significantly alter how learners and teachers interact with academic content. “Chidi provides personalised 24/7 learning support, helping students think critically, solve problems independently, and prepare for the jobs of the future,” he said. “Today marks more than the unveiling of a partnership; it signals our continent’s commitment to shaping a future where AI is a practical tool that empowers our teachers and expands opportunities for every learner.” “For Rwanda, this initiative reflects our enduring commitments to pressing technology development and human capital at the centre of our national transformation agenda.” Anthropic emphasised that the collaboration builds on its global efforts to support safe AI for education. Drew Bent, who leads Education and Beneficial Deployments at Anthropic, said the company’s goal is to ensure AI strengthens, rather than replaces, human abilities. “We are learning how to ensure AI serves local educational needs while reaching students at scale,” said Bent, “Rwanda’s comprehensive approach, training teachers, involving policymakers, and building a dedicated working group, creates the foundation for responsible AI deployment.” ALSO READ: Rwanda has what it takes to lead Africa in AI, ICT - Huawei executive Early feedback from learners across ALX’s programmes shows engagement with more than 4,000 learning sessions recorded, and nine out of ten users reporting positive experiences. Students say ‘Chidi’ helps them break down complex coding tasks, understand data science concepts, and develop analytical habits essential in the modern workplace. The government hopes the skills gained through ‘Chidi’ will inspire young entrepreneurs, strengthen the country’s developer ecosystem, and contribute to Africa’s broader digital future.

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ALX unveils ‘Chidi’, a first-of-its-kind AI mentor for young learners