Microsoft has announced that its AI-powered tool, Reading Coach, is now available for free to anyone with a Microsoft account. The tool offers personalized reading practice and is currently accessible on the web in preview, with a Windows app in development. Microsoft plans to integrate Reading Coach with learning management systems, such as Canva, in late spring.In a blog post, Microsoft emphasizes the significance of reading in academic success, stating that fluent readers are four times more likely to graduate high school and secure better jobs. Reading Coach builds upon Reading Progress, a plug-in for Teams for Education, designed to enhance reading fluency in students.

Launched in 2022, Reading Coach uses AI technology to provide engaging and transformative reading experiences, allowing learners to identify challenging words and offering tools like text-to-speech and syllable breaking.Educators can track learners' progress in Reading Coach, including words practiced, attempts made, and tools used. A recent enhancement to Reading Coach includes a "choose your own story" feature, powered by Microsoft's Azure OpenAI Service. Learners can create their own narrative adventure by selecting characters, settings, and reading levels. Alternatively, they can choose from curated passages in ReadWorks, a library of resources for reading comprehension.

While Microsoft touts the intrinsic motivation provided by Reading Coach, some educators remain skeptical about AI tools for measuring comprehension. Experts caution that there is no foolproof tool on the market, as students may inadvertently influence evaluations or disengage from tasks. However, in a recent survey by EdWeek Research Center, 44% of educators expressed confidence in adaptive tech's ability to accurately assess students' reading levels compared to non-adaptive software or traditional methods.