Brisk: Revolutionizing Education with AI Tools
As the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into education accelerates, it has become increasingly challenging to discern whether a student’s writing has been generated with the help of AI tools like ChatGPT. This complexity has raised concerns about false accusations of academic dishonesty. To address these issues, the San Francisco-based startup Brisk has introduced innovative solutions aimed at helping educators navigate the evolving landscape of student writing.
About Brisk’s AI Solutions
Brisk’s platform features a unique writing inspector among its 40 tools available through a Chrome extension. By leveraging generative AI and computer vision, Brisk aims to enhance educational workflows for teachers and students alike. Key functionalities include:
- Creating lesson plans, tests, and presentations
- Adapting materials for diverse learning abilities
- Automating grading processes
As CEO Arman Jaffer noted, “The existing edtech stack, which consists of approximately 140 different tools that the average teacher in the U.S. uses annually, is not ready for AI. We’re building an AI-native edtech stack.”
Funding and Growth
Brisk recently secured $15 million in new funding, following an earlier seed investment of $5 million in September 2024. This funding has contributed to a remarkable growth trajectory, with the company’s user base expanding five-fold and revenue increasing by a factor of 40 throughout 2024. Currently, over 2,000 schools across 100 countries utilize Brisk’s tools, with more than 90% of new business arising from inbound interest. As of February 2025, one in five K-12 teachers in the U.S. have installed the Brisk extension.
Bessemer Venture Partners led the latest funding round, with participation from previous investors like Owl Ventures and South Park Commons.
The Shift in Educational Technology
The growth of Brisk aligns with a broader trend where technology increasingly complements educational practices. Educators have sought technology solutions to enhance teaching strategies, compensate for dwindling resources, and advance productivity. Recent changes within the U.S. Department of Education have sparked concerns regarding potential resource reductions in education, further driving the need for effective technological adoption.
Various startups and larger tech companies have responded to this demand by rolling out educational technology applications aimed at supporting both students and educators. Noteworthy examples include Khan Academy, which serves students directly, and Google and Microsoft, which cater to educational institutions.
AI’s Role in Education
The emergence of AI within edtech is seen as a natural progression in the field. AI tools promise to streamline educators’ tasks, underlining a core tenet of Brisk’s vision: “AI is coming whether you like it or not, and it will make everyone’s lives better.” However, the introduction of AI has not been universally welcomed; several educators have expressed concerns about data accuracy and protection.
Jaffer, who previously worked at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, founded Brisk to improve educational collaboration dynamics. His earlier project, Notebooks, was developed as a collaborative alternative to Google Docs, though it struggled to gain traction.
Innovative Features of Brisk
Brisk’s tools aim to ease the apprehension some may have towards AI in classrooms. The platform’s writing inspector monitors a student’s work process in a video format, flagging any copy-pasted or atypical behaviors. This data is then presented to teachers, who can determine whether it indicates cheating or if AI was genuinely involved in the writing process.
Another key feature is “Targeted Feedback,” which employs generative AI to analyze essays within Google Docs. This tool generates feedback tailored to students’ age or specific grading criteria, allowing teachers to review and edit comments before sharing them with students.
Future Outlook
Looking ahead, Brisk plans to develop more immersive educational tools and expand beyond its current offerings. A web platform featuring new resources and activities is set to launch later this year, fostering a cohesive environment for educators. Moreover, Brisk aims to introduce multimodal features, allowing students to submit work in various formats, including images and audio.
As interest in AI applications in education continues to grow, leaders like Kent Bennett from Bessemer Venture Partners anticipate a significant paradigm shift. “We’re big believers at this AI moment in tracking sectors like education technology, which have a reputation for being tech phobic,” he stated, underscoring the undeniable momentum toward embracing AI in educational settings.
