When AI Becomes the Tutor
Generative Artificial Intelligence not just as a learning aid but as an active player in the classroom. This is the case for the 47 students from different backgrounds (Finance, Economics and Social Sciences, Public Policy, Government, and Law) enrolled in the Finance and Development course, taught by Nicola Limodio, Associate Professor in the Department of Finance at Bocconi. The course explores the role of markets and financial institutions as engines of growth, inclusive development and economic transformation.
“In an international context marked by geopolitical tensions and rapid technological change, the course aims to provide students not only with theoretical and practical knowledge of finance and development but also with concrete tools to approach future negotiation tables, with AI as a responsible ally,” explains Limodio.
AI is concretely used in class not only to read and simplify academic articles but also to stimulate debate and translate complex concepts into images and graphs, even creating cartoons or visual scenarios that help anchor the content. “Imagine, for example, manga-style cartoons contrasting financial liberalization and repression, or black-and-white sketches reinterpreting the central themes of finance in a superhero universe,” adds Limodio. “Thanks to generative AI, these representations are no longer out of reach in the classroom.”
AI even becomes a negotiating counterpart: chatbots bring to life role-playing sessions where students find themselves at the table with AI-driven virtual counterparts, thus simulating real negotiations with financial institutions and turning theory into interactive, realistic experiences.
“The course was developed in line with the University’s guidelines for the responsible use of AI, which emphasize transparency, privacy protection and human supervision,” says Limodio. “Student assessment combines written exams with individual and group projects, peer reviews, and measurement of class participation, thus encouraging active engagement and the development of transversal skills.”