Keti chatbot launches upgrade with full data customisation

Chil artificial intelligence (AI), alongside Reckitt, a consumer goods company, has launched a major update to its AI-powered Keti Chatbot platform.

The move gives schools the ability to fully customise how they track students' data and measure educational performance.

The Keti chatbot, part of the Dettol Hygiene Quest initiative, is already in use in thousands of schools. 

Its latest version allows administrators to define their own Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), moving away from the standardised, paperwork-heavy models previously used to measure school performance.

“This latest version marks a significant evolution of our platform,” said Dr Shamim Nabuuma, focal person for the Dettol Hygiene Quest. “We are not just giving schools a tool; we are giving them a strategic partner that can be customised to their precise needs.”

Educators say the chatbot is reshaping how schools handle performance monitoring, lesson planning and health promotion.

Augustino Natukunda, the headteacher Brain Giant Nursery and Primary School in Kanungu District, said the chatbot has streamlined data management and improved student engagement.

“We are glad that we were introduced to the Keti AI chatbot, which is helping us integrate hygiene lessons into our teaching. It gives answers immediately, corrects you, and even modifies your lesson plan,” he said.

In Ibanda District, Honest Model Primary School teacher Catherine Atuhire said the tool is essential in tracking student attendance and flagging recurring absenteeism.

“With the chatbot, we can track absenteeism and attendance. We can also order soap, and report any issues with the handwashing facilities provided by Dettol. It’s quicker and more efficient,” Atuhire said.

The AI tool reduces administrative burdens by automating tasks like real-time attendance tracking, while also supporting voice and multilingual input, making it more accessible in regions with varying literacy levels and languages.

The platform was developed in line with Uganda’s Data Protection and Privacy Act, 2019, which sets legal requirements for data collection and use. Section 3 of the Act defines personal data as “information about a person from which the person can be identified,” and Section 18 requires data collectors to obtain prior consent from data subjects before processing their information.

“The chatbot has been designed with data privacy at its core,” said Joan Akumu, legal advisor to the project. “All data handling follows the Act’s provisions on consent, transparency and ownership. Schools retain full control of their data.”

The Act also requires institutions to take “appropriate, reasonable and organisational measures” to prevent unauthorised access or loss of data. Chil AI says these safeguards are built into the chatbot’s design.

Peter Nsimiire, District Education Officer for Ibanda, said the technology offers education officials a much-needed solution to persistent tracking and planning challenges.

“Keti helps us monitor how schools are using handwashing facilities and embedding hygiene in their lessons,” he said. “It rates lesson plans and gives scores 90%, 60% and that helps teachers improve the quality of their teaching.”

He added that the initiative would not only improve academic performance but also boost learner retention by ensuring health and hygiene are effectively integrated into school life.

“By giving schools autonomy over how they collect and use their data while ensuring legal compliance, we are helping make Africa’s education systems more resilient and locally responsive,” said Nabuuma.