THE ROLE OF VIRTUAL ASSISTANTS AND AI ASSISTANTS IN ONLINE COURSES

This article examines the role, functions, opportunities, and educational value of virtual assistants and artificial intelligence-based AI assistants in online courses. The growth of digital education has created a strong need for tools that support independent learning, provide instant feedback, guide learners through course materials, and help mentors manage large groups of students. In this context, virtual assistants are not merely technical support tools; they serve as digital bridges between learners, mentors, administrators, and the online learning platform itself. AI assistants can analyze a learner’s level of knowledge, mistakes, questions, learning pace, activity history, and progress. Based on this analysis, they can provide personalized recommendations, explain difficult topics, generate exercises, evaluate answers, and support the learner throughout the course. The article discusses the theoretical foundations of virtual assistants, their practical application in online learning, their advantages and limitations, and their future prospects. Special attention is given to personalized learning, automated feedback, learner motivation, ethical use of AI, data privacy, and the cooperation between human mentors and AI assistants.