As part of the UCLA Digital & Technology Solutions (DTS) AI Innovation Initiative, the UCLA Office of Advanced Research Computing (OARC), in partnership with DTS, is piloting BruinAgent—an AI assistant designed to strengthen connections across campus. By guiding users to the right experts, offering tailored options and clearly explaining services, BruinAgent is creating a more interactive and effective way for Bruins to collaborate.
The Challenge
On the UCLA OARC website, users were navigating away from the contact page without completing the traditional contact form. This created barriers for UCLA researchers and staff who needed timely support and connections with the right experts. OARC saw an opportunity to reimagine how campus partners engage with services by replacing static forms with an intuitive, conversational experience.
The Solution
The BruinAgent team applied a user-centered design thinking approach.
- Conversational UX: Developed a chatbot persona, conversation scenarios and interactive prototypes informed by user interviews, journey maps and competitive analysis.
- Technology Foundation: Built a ReactJS front end connected to an on-premises backend, performing retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) workflows.
- AI Optimization: Compared leading large language models, ultimately selecting OpenAI’s ChatGPT (GPT-4o-mini) as the best performer at the time of testing.
- Dashboard for Transparency: Created a Chatbot Manager Dashboard to refine responses, analyze conversations and support both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Rigorous Testing: Conducted accessibility reviews, QA testing, and iterative usability studies with partners to refine the experience.
The Impact
Alpha and usability testing confirmed that BruinAgent is intuitive, helpful and effective. Researchers were connected more quickly to OARC experts, with support interactions becoming faster and more efficient. Conversation summaries provided departments with a way to surface key information at a glance, streamlining communication.
Beyond its immediate use case, BruinAgent demonstrates how an adaptable, modular AI solution can scale across UCLA. The platform’s microservices architecture ensures flexibility, scalability and readiness for future needs.
Looking Ahead
OARC is preparing to launch a public beta of BruinAgent to validate usability and gather broader feedback. With the necessary approvals and licensing support, BruinAgent can evolve into a packaged, managed solution that benefits the entire campus—and potentially, future partners beyond UCLA.
Call to Action
Learn more about how the UCLA Office of Advanced Research Computing, in partnership with DTS, is advancing collaboration through BruinAgent and other AI-driven initiatives on the DTS Newsroom.
