The Center for Data Innovation recently interviewed Aleksa Cvetkovic, CEO of Synapta, a Australian-based company leveraging AI to create personalized learning pathways for students. Cvetkovic explained how using AI tools for education can streamline grading, improve academic integrity checks, and deliver tailored learning experiences for students.
David Kertai: What does Synapta do?
Aleksa Cvetkovic: Synapta is an AI-powered education platform that helps students learn in ways that match how they think and engage. We personalize the delivery of content using visuals, audio, gamification, and immersive technologies like AR and VR, based on each student’s cognitive and behavioral profile to improve focus, retention, and performance.
Our platform includes four integrated AI tools. Sypher safeguards academic integrity by detecting AI-generated or manipulated content. Critora automates grading and feedback using subject-specific rubrics and real-time performance tracking. Axion adapts learning materials to each student’s unique cognitive patterns, acting as an “Artificial Second Brain” that evolves over time. And Nexcruit bridges the gap between education and employment by turning academic and behavioral data into secure digital profiles, helping students explore career opportunities through immersive previews.
Kertai: Can you expand on what Synapta’s Artificial Second Brain is?
Cvetkovic: The Artificial Second Brain is a personalized digital system designed to function like a dynamic extension of the student’s memory and learning process. This system continuously tracks how a student engages with different types of content and evolves based on their interactions. It organizes knowledge using a retention hierarchy that mirrors how the human brain categorizes and recalls information, from initial exposure to long-term mastery and application.
Every concept the student interacts with is stored, linked to related topics, and assigned a level of retention. For example, when a student is studying cellular respiration, the Artificial Second Brain connects it to related concepts, like aerobic metabolism or other topics in the same unit, and offers follow-up materials and practice questions. The system adapts content to the student’s preferred learning modes, such as flashcards, videos, or simulations. Each interaction is logged, updating retention data in real time. Students can view a heatmap of their knowledge, highlighting strengths, weaknesses, and areas needing attention. Over time, the Second Brain evolves into a long-term learning companion, supporting continued growth even in the workforce.
Kertai: How does Synapta personalize learning with AI?
Cvetkovic: Synapta personalizes learning through a combination of cognitive psychology, behavioral analytics, and real-time AI adaptation. Each learner starts with the creation of a cognitive profile, built from their interaction patterns, content preferences, attention cycles, and past performance. This profile shapes how content is delivered, switching between video lectures, hands-on simulations, or adjusting difficulty levels based on how quickly a student masters material. The platform continuously adapts to each learner to maintain engagement and optimize retention.
The Critora tool enhances personalization by using AI to grade work against educator rubrics, delivering feedback tailored to each student’s strengths and challenges. For example, if a student struggles to form a thesis, Critora will highlight this and suggest resources or strategies for improvement. Educators can also interact with the system, review the grading rationale, and override decisions if needed, ensuring transparency and trust. Additionally, it tracks performance trends, helping identify students who may need early intervention, making it easier to scale personalized feedback across large groups.
Kertai: How does Synapta use AI to ensure academic integrity?
Cvetkovic: Synapta integrates academic integrity with the AI based tool, Sypher. Unlike traditional plagiarism checkers that rely on surface-level phrase matching, Sypher uses advanced language learning processes, semantic role analysis, and statistical modeling to examine the structure of a student’s writing. Sypher also compares a student’s current work with their past work, flagging sudden changes in complexity, vocabulary, or tone. By cross-referencing known AI-generated content and previous submissions, it delivers more nuanced and context-aware judgments about authenticity.
Kertai: How does Synapta ensure inclusive education?
Cvetkovic: Equity and accessibility are at the heart of Synapta’s mission. The platform is built to support a wide range of neurodivergent learners, including those with ADD, ADHD, autism, and other cognitive differences, by adapting both content and delivery to their individual needs. It can shorten session lengths, reduce visual clutter, or adjust the pace of instruction based on how each student learns best. The goal is to foster a learning environment where every student, not just the neurotypical, can thrive and reach their full potential.
In underserved and Indigenous communities, Synapta takes a culturally responsive approach by embedding traditional educational practices such as oral storytelling, land-based learning, and symbolic knowledge into its digital formats. With AR and VR technologies, it brings these experiences to life, allowing students to engage with content that reflects and respects their cultural identity. Through the Synapta Foundation, the platform also provides subsidized access to low-income and infrastructure-limited regions, making advanced education available without the need for expensive hardware. By removing barriers and honoring diverse ways of knowing, Synapta is not just expanding access to education, it’s helping to redefine what inclusive, meaningful learning looks like in the digital age.
