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Harvard sells AI clone course
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Harvard Business School sells a $699 bootcamp taught by AI clones of its faculty.
The move tests whether AI can replace human coaching in entrepreneurship education.
Background
Harvard Business School launched an eight-week entrepreneurship bootcamp called HBS Foundry, priced at $699, where students interact with AI avatars of real faculty members. The avatars, built with HeyGen's technology, simulate pitch practice, sales calls, and board meetings. The program has been tested with over 100 universities across 50 states.
How it unfolded
- recentlyHarvard Business School introduced HBS Foundry, an eight-week bootcamp using AI avatars of instructors, priced at $699.
- Sat, 22 Aug 2026The New York Times reported on the course, noting that faculty like Jeff Bussgang volunteered to create AI clones.
- Sun, 23 Aug 2026TechStory and Startup Fortune covered the program, highlighting the use of HeyGen technology and the pilot with over 100 universities.
- Mon, 24 Aug 2026The Seattle Times syndicated the story, further spreading awareness of the AI-taught course.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Harvard Business School positions the AI avatars as a way to provide entrepreneurial training at scale, with faculty volunteering to create their digital counterparts.
- Caution
- Some commentators question whether AI professors can truly sharpen judgment, noting the hard part is proving AI can mimic the nuanced feedback of human instructors.
- Public
- Reactions on social media have been mixed, with some calling the concept 'dystopian' and others intrigued by the accessibility it offers.
Still unverified
The specific number of students enrolled or the success rate of the program has not been disclosed.