We’re economists who designed a chatbot to help our students reason instead of cheat. Meet ‘Macro Buddy’

Economists have developed 'Macro Buddy,' a chatbot designed to help students learn and reason rather than cheat, as survey data shows 90% of 1,100 U.S. college students reported using generative AI in 2025. The tool represents an educational approach to integrating AI into academic settings while addressing concerns about academic integrity.