Student AI learning assistant

What is Aila?

Aila is a learning assistant chatbot created by the University of Melbourne to help students engage with subject content in the LMS.

Aila has two key modes designed to assist your learning:

Chat mode

You can ask Aila questions about subject content. Aila will respond based only on the materials made available in the LMS by your Subject Coordinator. For example, you could ask:

  • “What are the key points covered in the lecture on xxx"”
  • “Can you explain photosynthesis in simple terms?”

Revision mode

Aila can guide you through revision using a Socratic tutor approach. This means Aila will ask you follow-up questions to prompt deeper thinking and help you check your understanding of key topics.

Important: What Aila is NOT

Aila is not designed for administrative or logistical questions. It cannot reliably help you find things in the LMS or answer questions like:

  • “Where do I submit my assignment?”
  • “When is the quiz due?”
  • “Where can I find the lecture slides?”

For those kinds of questions, you should refer to your Subject Guide, LMS announcements, or messages from your teaching team.

What Aila can and can’t access

Aila can only use subject content that your coordinator has selected and made available to Aila from the LMS.

Aila cannot access content stored outside the LMS, including:

  • Readings Online
  • Publisher platforms (Pearson, Wiley, etc.)
  • External tools like Lecture Capture, Padlet, H5P, or LinkedIn Learning
  • Images and media such as Echo Video recordings and PowerPoint images

Academic integrity and responsible use

Aila is a learning support tool, not a shortcut to completing your assessments. It is not designed to provide direct answers to assessment questions.

You are responsible for your own academic work. Always critically review Aila’s responses and double-check them against official subject materials. The University expects students to use Aila ethically and responsibly, in line with University of Melbourne AI principles.

Important reminder: Aila can make mistakes

Aila is a beta tool, which means it’s still being developed. Like all AI tools, it can misunderstand questions or provide incorrect or incomplete responses.

For every response Aila gives, it will show the source materials from the LMS that it used to generate the answer. You can click on these sources to check the original content directly.

Tips for using Aila effectively

  • Ask clear, specific questions about subject content — the more precise your question, the better the response.
  • Use Aila to review and revise topics you’ve already been introduced to in class.
  • Use Aila’s revision mode to practice explaining concepts in your own words.
  • Treat Aila as a learning partner, not a substitute for your own reading, thinking, or class attendance.
  • Always double-check Aila’s answers against your lecture notes, subject materials, and readings.

Learn more about using AI for study

The Academic Skills team has created practical advice on how to use GenAI tools effectively and responsibly in your learning. These tips apply whether you’re using Aila or other AI tools: Learning with GenAI – Academic Skills

Share your feedback

AILA is in a trial phase, so your feedback will help the University understand how well Aila works for students and what improvements are needed. Please let us know about your experience: Aila feedback survey

Questions or problems?

If you experience technical issues with Aila please request support.

This guide was last updated 19 Mar 2025.

Submit an LMS support request for further assistance or to report any errors or omissions in this guide.