A new artificial intelligence tool, dubbed “Einstein” by its creators at Companion, is pushing the boundaries of AI in education by not just assisting students—but replacing them. This isn’t about generating answers; it’s about fully automating coursework.
How It Works: Einstein operates through a virtual computer, logging into learning-management systems like Canvas, watching lectures, reading assignments, writing papers, taking quizzes, and even participating in discussion boards. Once set up, it runs autonomously, monitoring deadlines and submitting work without ongoing user input. As Companion CEO Advait Paliwal states, “Students are already using AI. We’re just giving them a better version of it.”
This tool leverages advances in generative AI, browser automation, and autonomous agents to function as a complete digital substitute for a student. Unlike chatbots that respond on demand, Einstein proactively completes tasks, producing original essays with citations and context-aware discussion posts. The system can also track announcements and upcoming deadlines, meaning a student could enroll in an online course and let the AI handle nearly all the work.
A Challenge to Academic Integrity: The emergence of Einstein complicates the debate around AI in education. Current policies focus on whether AI helps students cheat, but Einstein crosses a line: it is the cheating. If an AI logs in and completes assignments independently, the question shifts from assistance to substitution. Is the tool taking the student’s place entirely?
Not everyone is alarmed. Some argue that the current education system is already rife with cheating, and AI may force institutions to redesign classes around in-person work, oral exams, or project-based learning. Nicholas DiMaggio, a PhD student at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, believes this change could be beneficial: “This will ultimately be good because it will force educators to redesign classes to not rely on virtual assignments.”
Provocation as Strategy: Companion intentionally launched Einstein as a “cheating tool” to spark controversy and force a broader conversation about the future of education. Paliwal, a 22-year-old engineer, sees the tool as a catalyst for change. The goal wasn’t simply to create an AI that could do schoolwork, but to provoke a response that would force institutions to grapple with the implications of fully automated learning.
“The world needs to take this seriously. The world needs to question systems.” – Advait Paliwal, Companion CEO
Ultimately, schools will need to decide whether to ban such tools, integrate them under strict guidelines, or fundamentally rethink how learning is measured in the age of AI. The rise of autonomous students isn’t a distant threat—it’s happening now, and the education system must adapt.
