"The Verge has learned that the university recently began testing Sway, an AI debate program currently in beta. Developed by two researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, Sway matches up students with opposing views to chat one-on-one about hot-button issues and "facilitates better discussions between them," according to the tool's website. Nicholas DiBella, a postdoctoral scholar at CMU who helped develop Sway, told The Verge that about 3,000 students from more than 30 colleges and universities have used the tool."
"People at Columbia's Teachers College are testing Sway in order to potentially integrate it into the conflict resolution curriculum and "bridge-building initiatives at Columbia," DiBella said. He said there's also been interest from other teams at Columbia in using Sway for the fall 2026 semester and onward. Simon Cullen, an assistant professor at CMU and the other developer behind Sway, told The Verge that the company is also in touch with Columbia University Life."
Columbia University has started testing Sway, a beta AI debate program developed by two Carnegie Mellon researchers that pairs students with opposing views for one-on-one conversations. About 3,000 students from more than 30 colleges and universities have used Sway. Columbia's Teachers College is piloting the tool for potential integration into conflict resolution curriculum and bridge-building initiatives, with interest noted for fall 2026 and onward. The university has experienced prolonged tensions including expulsions of pro-Palestinian protesters, police raids, and federal demands. Sway places an AI Guide in each chat to ask tough questions and improve student reasoning.
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