Professor Ben Griffy Recognized for Innovation in AI-Powered Education

Professor Ben Griffy was recognized at UAlbany’s 2026 Inventor Recognition Ceremony for his patent application "MyQL: the Retrieval Augmented Tutor", an AI-powered educational platform designed to help faculty integrate artificial intelligence into their courses while maintaining a strong focus on student learning.

The Inventor Recognition Ceremony was held during Research & Entrepreneurship Week and honors UAlbany students, faculty, and staff who have submitted their first invention disclosure or patent application, or received their first patent, during the previous year.

Professor Griffy’s patent application covers two novel innovations in educational delivery that leverage AI to engage students in pedagogically sound ways while ensuring that they learn the course material. MyQL is designed to move AI beyond simply providing answers and instead make it an active partner in the learning process. The platform grounds AI-generated responses in instructor-provided course materials and provides citations to relevant sources. It also supports interactive quizzes with personalized feedback and experiential learning activities that allow students to apply concepts to realistic problems. By handling routine tasks associated with setting up complex assignments, MyQL enables students to concentrate on essential learning objectives, strengthen their critical thinking skills, and develop the ability to work effectively with AI.

The work is part of Professor Griffy’s role as a Principal Investigator on a multi-campus project to bring an AI Tutor to students. Together with co-PIs at SUNY Downstate and SUNY Farmingdale, he has already begun offering the AI Tutor in select courses and expects to offer a novel approach to AI in the classroom over the coming semesters. Professor Griffy was previously recognized for this initiative with the College of Arts and Sciences’ 2025/26 Dean’s External Funding Incentive Fellowship (Pedagogy and Student Success).