RISEBA Professor Valters Kaže’s “AI Professor” Receives International Recognition
The project “AI Professor”, within which a digital twin of RISEBA Professor Valters Kaže has been created- operating as a synchronous online video or audio avatar available at any time of day as a professor of International Business- has received the prestigious “Distance Learning Project of the Year 2026” award, granted by the German Federal Association of Distance Learning Providers (Bundesverband der Fernstudienanbieter e. V.).
The project was developed at AKAD University (Stuttgart, Germany), where Prof. Kaže serves as a visiting professor, and is based on technology provided by MindBank AI in 2025, making it one of the first solutions of its kind in Europe. Within the project, course content developed by Prof. Kaže is made accessible through interactive consultations and sessions for distance-learning students. The “digital twin of the professor” is available at a time and in a format convenient for students, providing individualized responses to course-related questions.
This solution ensures a high level of personalization in the learning process, demonstrating how artificial intelligence can complement the academic environment, support teaching staff, and enhance students’ ability to engage deeply with course content through an immersive learning experience. Since late 2025, the project has also attracted significant attention from leading German media, sparking active discussions within academic circles about the role of AI in education.
“It has been an exciting journey- from a bold, even somewhat crazy idea to an internationally recognized project. What began as a research experiment has now evolved into a functioning solution. It is an initiative that inspires both students and academic staff, while also fostering discussion about the role of technology in education,” emphasizes Professor Kaže.
“The professor’s digital twin is not a replacement for a lecturer, but rather an extension of possibilities- a helping hand for students at any time of day. It allows them to ask questions freely and receive structured, comprehensive answers through natural conversation- with a knowledgeable friend or mentor, rather than a traditional teacher.”
This achievement highlights the importance of innovation and collaboration in modern education, emphasizing the potential of digital solutions in future study processes and demonstrating the ability of Latvian higher education institutions to contribute to internationally recognized advancements in educational technologies.