With the launch of ChatGPT in 2022, AI began to enter the classroom. While some educators debated banning AI tools altogether due to concerns about cheating and safety, Hicks saw a different path. Drawing on his instructional design background at Apple, Hicks believed that with careful design and oversight, AI could help students learn in a more personalized way and give teachers the tools and insights to help them teach better.

In 2023, he launched SchoolAI. The platform gives teachers real-time signals on student progress and provides students with personalized support.

In just two years, SchoolAI has reached 1 million classrooms across 80+ countries, embedded in over 500 education partnerships. Built on OpenAI models, it translates cutting-edge tech into classroom-ready tools.

SchoolAI’s agent architecture resembles a typical classroom: Spaces are interactive learning environments that teachers create through Dot, a conversational assistant.