Helpful AI is the problem.
We're the solution.

AI that pushes students to think harder, not less. A platform that gives educators the power of designing productive friction.

See the Research

Making thinking visible again

1,500+

Sessions

22,000+

Messages

15

Pilot Institutions

7/8

Students Recommend

The Problem

Generalist AI gives answers, removes friction, and does the thinking.

That's great for productivity — but when AI does the cognitive work, students don't build the skill. Detection tools don't work and create adversarial classrooms. The essay is compromised. Teachers can't tell what's authentic anymore.

Our Solution

AI interactions designed to be difficult.

Socratic dialogues, role-plays, and scenarios that resist easy resolution. Students do the thinking. The AI provides the resistance. The transcript becomes the assessment — a full record of how each student navigated difficulty.

Platform Features

Everything educators need to design friction

Friction Bots

AI scenarios designed to challenge, not comply. Each bot has goals that conflict with easy resolution, pushing students to reason under pressure.

Transcript Review

See exactly how students navigate difficulty. Every exchange is captured, persistence, clarity, composure. Creating the assessment record.

Assignment Builder

Build assignments from pre-existing simulations and dossiers, with integrated rubrics and scaffolding. Align materials to learning objectives and graded coursework.

Bot Library

Pre-built simulations across disciplines, from Socratic mirrors to stakeholder negotiations. Ready to deploy in any course.

Cognitive Rubric

Grade cognition, not content. Evaluate persistence, clarity, adaptability, composure, and strategic thinking from every transcript.

Assessment that matters

We don't grade content. We grade cognition.

"Did they get the right answer?" is the wrong question. We ask: "How did they think through difficulty?" The transcript reveals everything.

Learn more

1 Persistence

Did they adapt when pushed back, or quit?

2 Clarity

Did they articulate reasoning under pressure?

3 Adaptability

Did they change tactics when stuck?

4 Composure

Did they stay constructive when frustrated?

5 Strategic Thinking

Did they reframe, redirect, or find creative approaches?

What educators are saying

"AI Friction Labs offers simulations that surface my student's thinking in ways I never imagined. I can now provide a practice ground for my students to test and train themselves in real-life scenarios in ways that are both engaging and meaningful.”

Professor Cliff Hurst

Ohio Wesleyan University - Marketing and Entrepreneurship

"Our faculty demoed AI Friction Labs at an in-service in February and immediately recognized its vast potential. We believe that AI Friction Labs has found a way to use AI in the classroom in ways that support cognition and assist teachers in evaluating student thinking. Teachers have signed up to beta test the platform across a variety of subjects -- History, Science, Mathematics, and more. We are incredibly excited to be an early partner at the forefront of positive AI use in the classroom and can't wait to be a part of the AI Friction Labs journey!"

Shannon Schmidt

Garrison Forest School - Director of the Boyce Center for Learning & Thriving

What Students are saying

“I've enjoyed this a lot more than my class assignments. We have done very simple deal defense assignments, but obviously you don't get live feedback and questioning on your judgement. This is definitely very beneficial for real-world prep. I feel as though for students getting the practice in speaking up and defending your claims against someone grilling you is rare. Especially in my classes I notice more and more participation is forced and many students are answering questions as a question, not an answer.

Hollie Pardini - Georgetown Class of 2027

Double major in Finance and Operations & Analytics.

"It made me feel more confident in thinking through my arguments and ideas. I felt like my counter-argument skills improved. It's a good activity, because the bot argues better than most people nowadays.

Anonymous Student

First-Year Writing, Fairleigh Dickinson University

"With ChatGPT, if you're like, 'hey, do I look good today?' it’s obviously going to say yes. I love that Friction Bots are the opposite; they’re tough to handle, and they flip that dynamic on its head. It’s an enjoyable challenge to try and convince a Friction Bot that you’re right and good practice."

Zane Neczeporenko

Business Marketing, Ohio Wesleyan University