Sizzle AI and the Rise of the AI Study Companion with Jerome Pesenti

Edtech Insiders

Send us a text

Jerome Pesenti is the founder of Sizzle AI, an AI-for-learning company whose mission is to make learning amazing for everyone. Jerome has worked in AI for the past 25 years, including as VP of AI at Meta, co-CEO of BenevolentAI, VP at IBM Watson, and co-founder of Vivisimo (sold to IBM).

💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. How Sizzle AI uses bite-sized, adaptive learning to help students study more effectively.
2. Why Jerome left big tech to tackle educational challenges with AI.
3. The evolving role of homework and assessments in the age of generative AI.
4. How AI can personalize learning paths and study plans for individual learners.
5. The future vision for AI as a lifelong learning companion across school, work, and personal interests.

✨ Episode Highlights:

[00:02:21] Sizzle AI turns study guides into personalized learning paths.
[00:03:10] Jerome shares why he left Meta to focus on AI for learning.
[00:05:45] Test prep mode boosts readiness with smart study plans.
[00:06:51] Students love Sizzle for making hard content manageable.
[00:08:18] Gamification features are coming soon to enhance engagement.
[00:09:16] Why Sizzle chose a direct-to-learner approach over schools.
[00:11:00] AI shows steps, not just answers, to promote real learning.
[00:14:36] AI can assess student readiness, not just complete tasks.
[00:17:29] Future of testing: both AI-assisted and AI-free formats.
[00:20:14] Sizzle already supports learning beyond the classroom.
[00:23:04] The role of personality in AI study companions.
[00:25:03] Using data to drive learning science at scale.

😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!

• Follow our Podcast on:
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify
  • Amazon Music
• Sign up for the Edtech Insiders newsletter.
• Follow Edtech Insiders on LinkedIn!

🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:

This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Starbridge. Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.

This season of Edtech Insiders is once again brought to you by Tuck Advisors, the M&A firm for EdTech companies. Run by serial entrepreneurs with over 25 years of experience founding, investing in, and selling companies, Tuck believes you deserve M&A advisors who work as hard as you do.

Chapters

1. Sizzle AI and the Rise of the AI Study Companion with Jerome Pesenti (00:00:00)

2. Sizzle AI turns study guides into personalized learning paths. (00:02:52)

3. Jerome shares why he left Meta to focus on AI for learning. (00:03:41)

4. Test prep mode boosts readiness with smart study plans. (00:06:16)

5. Students love Sizzle for making hard content manageable. (00:07:22)

6. Gamification features are coming soon to enhance engagement. (00:08:49)

7. Why Sizzle chose a direct-to-learner approach over schools. (00:09:47)

8. AI shows steps, not just answers, to promote real learning. (00:11:31)

9. AI can assess student readiness, not just complete tasks. (00:15:30)

10. Future of testing: both AI-assisted and AI-free formats. (00:18:23)

11. Sizzle already supports learning beyond the classroom. (00:21:08)

12. The role of personality in AI study companions. (00:23:58)

13. Using data to drive learning science at scale. (00:25:57)