How Embodiment Changes AI Tutoring: Comparing Student Perceptions of Text and AI Human Avatar-Based Chatbot Systems

Our presentation of “How Embodiment Changes AI Tutoring” at HCII 2026 conference.

In this research, we investigate how a human-like avatar influences students’ perceptions and use of an AI tutoring system. The results show that embodiment strengthens the AI tutor’s role as a communication partner, while information seeking remains the dominant learning behaviour. Audio was perceived as more useful than the visual avatar, and deeper self-regulated learning still requires explicit pedagogical scaffolding.