Instructure Announces Project Athena, an AI Study Coach Designed to Deliver In-Context Learning through Canvas

SALT LAKE CITY— Instructure, the leading learning ecosystem and maker of Canvas LMS, today introduced Project Athena, currently under development as part of Instructure Foundry, Instructure’s new venture dedicated to innovation. Project Athena is an AI study coach that integrates with Canvas to help students study more effectively. Once launched, Athena will provide personalized support that coaches students toward skill mastery and understanding, utilizing feedback from students and educators grounded in learning science. Project Athena is being designed to use course materials, assignments, and information about upcoming assessments, available through the student’s account, to generate personalized quizzes, study guides, and coaching prompts aligned with course learning objectives.

As institutions work to improve engagement, many struggle to provide personalized study support at scale. Educators and students increasingly turn to AI tutoring to address this need. Yet most AI tutoring tools have a critical gap: they generate explanations without the context of what students are actually learning and require students to find, organize, and upload course materials themselves. Project Athena is intended to address that context gap by connecting study support to the Canvas content students are expected to learn.

Research from the Fordham Institute shows that instructionally aligned tutoring, when connected to what students are actually learning in their courses, produces measurable improvements in student outcomes. Athena will apply this learning science principle by connecting AI-powered study support to course context available through each student’s Canvas account. Athena’s quiz, study guide, and coaching prompts are designed to align with the specific material students are expected to master.
Designed to support educator confidence

Consistent with its philosophy of collaborative product design, Instructure is co-creating Project Athena alongside its customers. As one example of institutional partnership, Hinds Community College, the largest community college in Mississippi, will provide Athena to all 7,000 of its students this fall after a successful pilot this spring.

“Office hours and a tutoring center can only stretch so far. We wanted every student to have support whenever they needed it,” said Brandon Mitchell, Director of Instructional Design and Technology at Hinds College. “If that keeps even a fraction of our 7,000 students in a course they might have dropped, that's a completion and retention impact we can't ignore.”

Student feedback gathered during the project’s development has indicated that instructor support influenced students' comfort with using an AI-enabled study tool. Instructure is using that feedback to shape an experience focused on course materials, learning objectives, and study practices intended to strengthen understanding. The approach will give educators greater clarity about the tool's purpose and give students clearer expectations, while supporting institutional guidelines for responsible AI use.

“Project Athena represents what we believe responsible AI in education should look like: grounded in learning science, connected to the learning environment and built to support understanding through skill mastery,” said Shiren Vijiasingam, chief product officer at Instructure. “It will use the Canvas course context available to each student to focus personalized study support on what they are learning. Project Athena will coach toward mastery, not answers, and is being designed around student data privacy and responsible use.”

Study support grounded in Canvas course context

• Project Athena connects to a student’s Canvas account and uses information available through the student’s existing Canvas permissions, including course materials, assignments and upcoming assessments.
• It generates quizzes, study guides and coaching prompts. This allows the study experience to reflect the content and deadlines associated with each course while keeping support grounded in the material chosen by educators.
• Project Athena will use a mastery model that prioritizes understanding and skill development over assignment completion. It will track confidence and identify areas where students need additional support, pulling relevant questions and materials from Canvas and student uploads while continuously adapting difficulty to match what students already know. Students will be able to upload handwritten notes or curriculum content, and Athena will ground its guidance in course context, with an emphasis on content mastery.

Privacy by design is core to Instructure's AI governance, and Project Athena reflects this commitment. Student conversations are never used to train external models, and students will retain ownership of the data they create in Athena. Athena will access Canvas course information through a read-only connection governed by the student’s existing permissions, so it can only retrieve information the student is authorized to view. Instructure serves as a FERPA-designated school official when handling education records on behalf of participating institutions.
Launching through Instructure Foundry

Project Athena is the first project announced through Instructure Foundry, a new AI-native venture studio for building and bringing innovative products to market faster than Instructure's core roadmap can move. Foundry “disrupts from within,” exploring emerging markets and testing solutions at the pace of change, while maintaining the trust and stability of the core Instructure learning ecosystem. By launching products through Foundry, institutions can adopt breakthrough solutions now, with transparent expectations about what's proven and what will evolve. Every Foundry solution is built through direct collaboration with educators and institutions to address the specific challenges they face.

Instructure’s core product roadmap is built to support thousands of institutions with consistency, reliability, and scale. Foundry complements that work by enabling focused teams to respond more quickly to emerging needs, test new approaches with customers and advance promising solutions without disrupting the core learning ecosystem.

“We have spent more than a year developing Athena alongside our customers and will continue testing and refining it,” said Steve Daly, chief executive officer at Instructure. “By connecting directly to the courses students are taking, Athena will provide study support that reflects the material they are expected to understand. Foundry gives focused teams the flexibility to respond to emerging needs, incorporate feedback from educators and students, and bring solutions that improve outcomes to our customers more quickly.”

Institutions interested in testing Athena and providing feedback can learn more at https://www.studywithathena.com

Building the Nation Together: Globe, DICT Mark GIDA Milestone in Pangasinan

Globe, together with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Provincial Government of Pangasinan, marked a major milestone in the country's digital inclusion journey with the ceremonial activation of a new connectivity site in Barangay Macaleeng, Anda, Pangasinan.

The event highlighted the activation of Globe's mobile network expansion across 52 unserved sites, bringing connectivity to these previously zero-signal zones for the very first time, a breakthrough in bridging the digital divide. Fulfilling the company’s commitment to ensure reliable mobile network access across 180 project locations in support of the DICT’s digital inclusion initiatives, Globe’s expanded network footprint brings coverage to the newly connected communities while delivering optimized network services and bandwidth across 128 underserved areas, ensuring all beneficiaries can fully access reliable mobile data.

The ceremony brought together DICT Undersecretary for Support Services Heherson Asiddao, Anda, Pangasinan Mayor Joganie Rarang, representatives from the Department of Education, local government officials, community leaders, Globe executives, and residents who stand to benefit from improved connectivity. During the event, local beneficiaries also received and activated their Bayanihan SIM cards, gaining immediate access to mobile connectivity and digital services.

"This is an important milestone. Every new tower means more communities connected, more families reached, and more opportunities opened," said DICT Undersecretary for Support Services Heherson Asiddao. "This is why connectivity is not just about technology. It is about the people and making sure that where they live does not limit what they can achieve. "

Anda, Pangasinan Mayor Joganie Rarang welcomed the initiative, emphasizing the transformative impact of digital infrastructure on community development.

"For our students, farmers, entrepreneurs, and families, better connectivity opens doors to opportunities that were once beyond reach. This milestone is an investment in the future of Pangasinan."

For Globe, the milestone reinforces its commitment to helping build a more connected and digitally inclusive Philippines.

"The hardest places to connect are often the communities that stand to benefit the most from connectivity," said Carl Cruz, President and CEO of Globe. "Whether through new technologies, stronger partnerships, or innovative network solutions, our goal is simple: to make sure geography is never a barrier to opportunity."

Reliable connectivity opens access to online learning, digital government services, healthcare information, livelihood opportunities, financial services, and communication with family and loved ones. As more underserved communities come online, connectivity continues to create new opportunities for individuals, families, schools, and local businesses.

The ceremony reflects the shared commitment of Globe, DICT, and local government partners to expand connectivity where it is needed most. By continuing to work together, they are helping create more opportunities for communities across the country to participate in an increasingly connected and digital Philippines.

PLDT Ready to Support Growing Government Demand Under New Data Residency EO

PLDT Inc. says it is ready to support the government's growing requirements for secure data hosting and digital infrastructure following the issuance of Executive Order No. 119, which establishes a data residency framework for government data, and is expected to strengthen protection for Filipinos' sensitive information and reinforce the country's broader digital transformation efforts.

PLDT Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan expressed his appreciation and support for the President's vision for digital transformation. “We're eager to help turn the President's vision into reality,” he said. “We have been preparing for this future for years. We built the infrastructure ahead of time, and our people have the expertise and capabilities to help the government secure our data and accelerate our digital transformation.”

Through its expanding network of data centers and digital infrastructure, PLDT is well-positioned to enable a secure and future-ready digital ecosystem for government, businesses, and citizens and support the implementation of the government's data residency ambitions.

“This landmark policy brings our government's data governance framework in alignment with the demands of the digital economy, which includes a nation's ability to secure, govern, and control its own data. EO 119 is a key step to ensure both our national security and economic competitiveness,” said Victor S. Genuino, President and CEO of ePLDT Inc. and President of VITRO REIT, Inc.

“We already host the critical data of the country's data-driven government agencies, enterprises, and cloud and AI workloads. And with the launch of VITRO Santa Rosa, the country's first and only AI-ready data center, we can confidently say we are ready today — not just with capacity, but with the cloud and AI capabilities the public sector requires,” he added.

Today, PLDT's data center business under ePLDT, Inc. (“ePLDT”) and VITRO REIT, Inc. the country's pioneering data center operator, showcases over 25 years of operations as trusted digital infrastructure partner for enterprises, with a nationwide footprint strategically spread across the country and approximately 34MW total IT ready capacity available for utilization — the largest data center operator in the country by live colocation IT capacity as of April 15, 2026, according to independent market research.

Years of sustained investments in digital infrastructure enable PLDT to provide the scale and resilience needed to help government agencies comply with evolving data residency and protection requirements under EO 119.

Among these investments are VITRO-branded data centers, which host some of the country's first local sovereign digital platforms, such as Pilipinas Cloud and Pilipinas AI.

Pilipinas Cloud, launched by ePLDT in 2023 as one of the country’s pioneering sovereign cloud platforms, was envisioned specifically to host highly sensitive government data and applications in a trusted cloud environment to help fast-track the digital transformation of the country's public sector. Today, Pilipinas Cloud hosts mission-critical workloads in compliance with the country’s data protection laws and regulations.

Apart from sovereign cloud, ePLDT also launched another homegrown infrastructure that aims to help enterprises and government agencies adopt and operationalize AI responsibly and compliantly. Introduced in 2025, ePLDT Pilipinas AI, the country's first sovereign AI solutions stack, enables organizations to tap into AI's full potential without the burden of building or managing their own infrastructure. It also supports local data privacy requirements and reinforces digital sovereignty by helping keep critical data and workloads within Philippine borders.

Through these sovereign digital infrastructures, PLDT strengthens the Philippines' bid to become a regional hub for digital innovation amid the acceleration of AI adoption around the world.

Underpinning these services are PLDT and Smart's integrated fixed and wireless networks. As of end-March 2026, PLDT's fiber infrastructure, the country's most extensive, spanned nearly 1.3 million cable kilometers, consisting of domestic and international fiber.

Lenovo and FIFA AI Pro Transform Match Preparation at FIFA World Cup 2026™

Artificial intelligence played a defining role at the FIFA World Cup 2026™, as Lenovo and FIFA announced that all 48 participating national teams utilized FIFA AI Pro, an advanced football analytics platform designed to revolutionize match preparation and tactical decision-making.

The adoption of FIFA AI Pro across every competing nation highlights the growing influence of AI in modern sports. By providing teams with rapid access to in-depth performance analysis, the platform has helped level the playing field while enhancing the quality of football on the global stage.

FIFA AI Pro processes millions of data points and evaluates more than 2,000 individual performance metrics from matches and training sessions. Within minutes, coaches and analysts receive comprehensive reports, interactive graphs, visual animations, and tactical recommendations that support everything from opponent scouting to player performance evaluation.

At the core of the platform is Lenovo's AI Factory infrastructure and xIQ agent platform, which powers FIFA AI Pro as a sophisticated Knowledge Super Agent. Instead of relying on a single AI model, the system coordinates multiple specialized AI agents that work together to analyze massive amounts of football data simultaneously. This collaborative AI architecture enables teams to receive highly detailed insights in a fraction of the time traditionally required by human analysts.

One of the most significant achievements of FIFA AI Pro is its commitment to making elite football analytics more accessible. Historically, only wealthier football federations could afford large analytics departments and advanced scouting technologies. With FIFA AI Pro, smaller and emerging national teams gained access to the same high-quality analytical tools, allowing them to prepare more effectively regardless of budget or resources.

This democratization of sports technology represents a major milestone for international football. Equal access to advanced analytics encourages greater competition and allows every nation to make data-driven decisions before and during matches.

According to Arsène Wenger, FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development, the successful deployment of FIFA AI Pro marks the beginning of a new era in football analysis. Rather than spending countless hours gathering and organizing performance data, technical staff can now focus on interpreting insights, refining tactics, and improving player performance.

As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, platforms like FIFA AI Pro demonstrate how technology can enhance—not replace—the expertise of coaches and analysts. By combining human decision-making with AI-powered intelligence, Lenovo and FIFA are helping shape the future of football, where faster analysis, smarter strategies, and greater accessibility benefit teams of every size on the world's biggest sporting stage.

Vivo X300 FE Brings AI Creation to Transform Everyday Photography

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Rainy days and overcast skies often make even the most vibrant locations appear dull in photos. While the human eye can still appreciate the beauty of a scene, smartphone cameras sometimes struggle to capture the same atmosphere. To address this, Vivo has introduced AI Creation on the new Vivo X300 FE, an intelligent imaging feature designed to enhance photos before and after they are taken.

Building on the company's expertise in mobile photography, the Vivo X300 FE combines its advanced AI imaging technology with a ZEISS co-engineered camera system, allowing users to transform ordinary shots into visually stunning images without relying on third-party editing apps. Whether capturing cityscapes, landscapes, or creative portraits, AI Creation makes it easier to achieve professional-looking results with just a few taps.

A recent hands-on demonstration, filmed in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Metro Manila, showcased how the feature can dramatically improve photos taken during gloomy weather. The demonstration highlighted two primary ways users can take advantage of AI Creation.

Before taking a photo, users can activate AI Style Filters within the Camera app's Landscape & Night mode. One of the available filters, Morning Glow, instantly adds warmer lighting and brighter tones, transforming cloudy scenes into vibrant images at the moment the shutter is pressed. Users can also explore additional AI styles such as Underwater, Dream, and Glow, each previewed through easy-to-select thumbnails.

AI Creation also enhances images after they have been captured. By opening a photo in the Gallery and selecting AI Creation, users can choose from creative styles including Travel, Landscape, Fantasy, Stage, and Cyberpunk. After tapping Generate, the AI recreates the image with a fresh artistic look within seconds, offering an effortless way to reimagine existing photos.

Beyond its AI-powered imaging capabilities, the Vivo X300 FE delivers flagship-level performance. It is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor, ensuring smooth multitasking and responsive AI processing. Despite its powerful hardware, the smartphone remains sleek, measuring only 7.99 mm thin and weighing 191 g, making it comfortable for everyday use while delivering premium photography performance.

The Vivo X300 FE is available in Mist Purple and Luxe Black with a suggested retail price of Php 54,999. Customers can purchase the device through Vivo concept stores, the Vivo e-store, and official Vivo stores on Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop.

For more information about the Vivo X300 FE and its AI Creation features, visit the official Vivo website.