Everything you need to know about creating AI assistants for teaching, from simple meta-prompts to full custom chatbots.

Quick Navigation

This guide consolidates multiple entries. For original detailed entries, see:

• Beginners Guide: Custom Chatbots - Getting started
• Custom AI for Classes - Course bot design
• Meta-Prompt vs Custom Chatbot - When to use each
• Chatbots for Campus - Institutional applications
• Chatbot Memory? Yes, they have it - Understanding AI memory

Part 1: Understanding Your Options

Custom Chatbots vs. Meta-Prompts

Custom Chatbots (GPTs, Copilot Agents, Claude Projects)

• Require premium AI subscription
• Can include knowledge sources (syllabi, PPTs, textbooks)
• Shareable with students (except Claude)
• Persistent instructions across sessions

Meta-Prompts

• Work with any AI, free or premium
• No knowledge sources, but can include web links