AI Buddy evolves into askUZH: Expanding AI support across the University
Over the past year, AI Buddy has supported OEC students by answering questions about study regulations, modules and administrative processes. What started as a faculty-specific pilot is now expanding. In the Autumn Semester 2026, AI support will be launched for the Vetsuisse Faculty (VSF) and Faculty of Theology and the Study of Religion (TRF). With this expansion, we are also introducing askUZH, an umbrella platform for AI-powered support at UZH.
As more faculties are integrated, askUZH will increasingly provide both university-wide and faculty-specific support through a single platform. AI Buddy is not disappearing but will continue to provide faculty-specific support as part of askUZH. Over time, additional applications, such as the AI Teaching Assistant, will complement this platform.
In the future, askUZH will automatically take a user’s university context into account, such as their faculty or study programme, making separate faculty-specific assistants unnecessary. This way, askUZH creates a single platform that can support students, lecturers and staff beyond administrative questions, including teaching, learning and university services.
What does this mean?
- For students, askUZH will gradually become a central entry point for AI-powered support throughout their studies.
- For lecturers, new tools such as the AI Teaching Assistant will provide course-specific learning support based on teaching materials.
- For staff, askUZH will gradually provide access to shared university-wide services and information, while students remain the primary focus of the platform.
