Microsoft: Reading Coach
Learning to read is one of the most meaningful milestones in a student’s life. With Microsoft Reading Coach, AI helps make that journey more confident and inspiring. On Microsoft Unlocked, we shared a different kind of AI story—one centered on real learners, dedicated teachers, and what happens when curiosity connects with thoughtfully designed technology.
The Challenge:
Microsoft Reading Coach draws on decades of literacy research to boost students’ fluency and confidence. But while embraced in classrooms, AI in education still sparks debate. The challenge: show that AI, when designed thoughtfully, can support human connection in the classroom rather than replace it.
Behind the scenes process:
Our approach:
We created an immersive digital experience that brought the impact of Reading Coach to life inside real classrooms.
At its heart was a thoughtfully designed user journey, weaving together teacher and student interviews, editorial storytelling, motion design, AI-generated elements, and video. This integrated approach invited audiences to experience how purposeful technology can empower students while meaningfully supporting teachers.
Students and teachers leading the storytelling:
Students used Reading Coach’s AI to create interactive stories, deepening their connection to reading by stepping into the role of author. Their narratives—complete with AI-generated book covers—were paired with hand-drawn illustrations inspired by the real experiences of students and teachers.
This deliberate blend of AI and human creativity carried through the entire experience. By elevating authentic voices and enhancing them with thoughtfully applied technology, we captured the curiosity, imagination, and joy at the heart of learning—showing how AI can partner with educators and students to help them grow and thrive together.
Experiencing Reading Coach firsthand:
To help audiences truly understand the impact of Reading Coach, we made the experience hands-on. Visitors could explore an interactive AI story generator—selecting characters, settings, and reading levels to instantly create personalized stories and book covers, just as students do in the classroom.
We also highlighted Reading Coach’s multilingual accessibility through an interactive audio feature. Visitors could listen to real interviews with teachers and students in English, Spanish, and Dutch, following along with highlighted text—reflecting the same supportive, language-inclusive experience Reading Coach provides for learners.
The impact:
The campaign drove almost 3 million page views, and the video quickly became Microsoft’s most-viewed YouTube video, earning over 13 million views in under a month. By centering the authentic voices of teachers and students, the story illustrated how AI can deepen engagement and connection in the classroom.