We are thrilled to share the results from our recent Fall 2025 pilot program for our Communication Companion (CoCo), one of the new student success tools brought to you by Gray Decision Intelligence.
AI is set to enhance nearly every aspect of colleges and universities. College Companions are at the forefront of this transformation, providing personalized, round-the-clock support to students, faculty, and staff. This new wave of technology makes critical assistance more efficient, effective, and accessible than ever before, ensuring help is always available when it’s needed.
Our Communication Companion (CoCo) is a prime example, built to help students build tangible communication skills and confidence. It provides a safe, judgment-free space for personalized practice, available 24/7. Through customized interactive video sessions, students can master everything from high-stakes job interviews and difficult conversations to polished public speaking. CoCo delivers real-time, personalized coaching on clarity, tone, and delivery, using AI-powered simulations and improv-style drills to improve verbal agility and ensure students are prepared to speak with precision and confidence.
We gathered feedback from 31 dedicated users to understand their initial experience. Their insights are invaluable, and we would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who participated.
The feedback centered on two critical areas: usability and engagement. Here’s what we learned.
Key Finding 1: Users Find CoCo Incredibly Easy to Use
Our primary goal is to build tools that are intuitive and remove friction, not create it. We asked users, “How easy was it to access and use CoCo?” and the response was overwhelmingly positive.
An impressive 90.3% of users found the experience either “Easy” or “Very Easy.”
- Very Easy: 51.6%
- Easy: 38.7%
This is a fantastic validation of our team’s hard work on user experience (UX) and interface (UI) design. It confirms that users can log in and start getting value from CoCo right away, which is a huge win for any new product.
Key Finding 2: A Clear Opportunity for Deeper Engagement
The second half of the story is about usage frequency. We asked, “How often did you use CoCo?” The results provided us with a clear and actionable challenge.
- Once: 51.6%
- Two or more times: 25.8%
- Multiple times: 22.6%
This data shows a near 50/50 split. While 48.4% of users returned to the tool more than once (showing a strong “sticky” potential), a slight majority used it a single time.
This isn’t bad news; it’s a focusing lens. It’s possible those 51.6% of users got exactly what they needed in one efficient session. However, we see a massive opportunity to build features that provide continuous, long-term value, encouraging users to make CoCo a regular part of their learning.
What Communication Companion Students Liked
“I liked how accessible it was and how easy it was to use.”
“I liked that it told me ways to fix my posture and presence instead of just focusing on my speaking abilities. I believe that how you present yourself and move your body is just as important as talking…”
“I really liked how it would highlight the transcripts where I said ‘um.'”
“I liked how it let me practice my speech with feedback because I often feel weird reciting speeches over and over again.”
What’s Next for Gray DI and Communication Companion?
This pilot was a tremendous success. We confirmed that the Gray Decision Intelligence Communication Companion is accessible and user-friendly.
Our team is already diving into this data, brainstorming new features and enhancements that will make CoCo an indispensable companion, not just for one-time tasks but for ongoing success.
Thanks again to our pilot users. Your feedback is our most valuable asset.
Interested in piloting the Communication Companion at your college? Sign up with this link, and we’ll schedule some time to talk.
