Notre Dame students and faculty received an email at 8:30 p.m. regarding an AI company, entitled Kerra.
The email came from freshman Caden Chuang, a founding team member of the company. Speaking with The Observer, Chuang said he initially had an email list of about 30,000 people, however, chose to solely limit his email to the undergraduate population.
The company’s website self-advertises as an “AI agent for college students.” Their website states, “Kerra connects to your university Canvas and automatically creates lecture notes, practice tests, and assignment draft from your course materials.”
The email, sent by Chuang, advertises, “I built an AI agent that connects to your Canvas and sees everything: your grades, assignments, schedule, all of it. It figures out exactly where you’re falling short and gives you the precise roadmap to get an A with the least amount of work possible. Your only job is to pull up to the exam.”
The email continues to explain the AI software, “reads every slide, PDF, and reading your professor uploaded and turns it into an actual study guide; Augments your assignment completion ability; Adds every deadline to your calendar so you don't miss anything from your professor's announcements.”
As of 9:20 p.m., Chuang reported the emails had been deleted from his Notre Dame email. The emails had been removed from Notre Dame students’ inboxes as well.
The Responsible Use of Data and Information Technology Resources Policy and Communications Policy within du Lac do not expressly forbid the use of mass emails to students by other students.
The Notre Dame academic honor code policy on generative AI states, “representing work that you did not produce as your own, including work generated or materially modified by AI, constitutes academic dishonesty. Use of generative AI in a way that violates an instructor’s articulated policy, or using it to complete coursework in a way not expressly permitted by the faculty member, will be considered a violation of the Honor Code,” while noting that generative AI may be used to augment learning.
Chuang said his goal in sending this email to the student population was to make students aware of Kerra and give them a resource that will allow students to support their learning and efficiently manage their academics. According to him, the company’s aim is to give students more time to explore all the opportunities outside the classroom and spend more time with their friends.
“You’re not gonna remember what happens in the classroom. You’re gonna remember what happens outside the classroom, all the crazy stuff, all the interesting stuff they do outside of class,” Chuang said.
Chuang noted he was not concerned about negative ramifications or possible consequences from the University administration, saying that he sees the promotion of the tool as a “social good.”
“I believe it is a social good, a force for good for the campus itself, so I felt compelled to really help my fellow classmates,” Chuang said.
Ardea Russo, the director of the Office of Academic Standards, confirmed the University is aware and looking into the email.
