If you’re in college, you’re probably worried about drowning in midterms and assignments (if you aren’t already). AI can be a lifeline, so long as you use it in the right ways. That’s why I’ve taken a look at Lorka, the latest AI aggregator ready to take the college world by storm.
What is Lorka?
Lorka AI is a multi-model aggregator that lets you swap between over a dozen bots in just a few button presses. Students all over the US are already using AI – whether they’re open about it or not – so anyone in college can probably already see the potential.
All the AIs are in their premium versions, and the full package costs only $19.99 a month. That’s perfect for a student budget, and already enough for me to recommend it.
But… what if I told you that’s not all? On top of over a dozen AIs, Lorka comes with tons of extra tools, some of which are perfect study aids.
How Lorka Breaks Down Textbooks
Using Lorka was pretty easy from the jump. You just load it up, pick which model you’d like, and talk to it like you normally would. If you want help digesting massive materials on tight timelines, just upload the file or paste the relevant text.
But, of course, the whole point of the service is that some AIs fit certain tasks better than others. And for a task that may involve digesting large amounts of information, you’ll need a model with a high context window.
Claude and Gemini are your best bets here. Gemini in particular has 1 million “tokens” – roughly 1,500 pages. After the documents are processed, it may be worth swapping to ChatGPT. which excels at explaining concepts in easily digestible steps.
Summarize Text & Chat With PDF
Lorka also offers dedicated apps to help you understand large textbooks and other documents:
- Summarize Text also lets you share files and read the platform’s interpretation. You can even set the explanation’s length and whether it uses paragraphs or bullet points.
- Chat With PDF, meanwhile, lets you ask questions about a PDF’s specific content. You won’t be left in the dark if you’re struggling with the AI’s explanation.
Either of these is a cut above simply asking Gemini to summarize a document. Though all three methods do the job.
Lorka and Learning Styles
Everyone learns differently. I’m an auditory learner, for example, so huge walls of text aren’t very helpful for me. So I was happy to see Lorka had tools and models for everybody. Here’s how I’d recommend using Lorka depending on your learning style:
Visual
Of course, these AI platforms are pretty text-based. That doesn’t mean you can’t get some type of visual aid, though. For example, you can ask Claude to create a flowchart with text diagrams to explain concepts, or ask ChatGPT to make a table.
Auditory
Lorka doesn’t have a default setting to read its outputs aloud, though you could always set up a screen reader or text-to-speech program yourself. Alternatively, you can ask Lorka to provide its output as a lecture “script,” which I found especially helpful.
Reading
AI’s standard output is text, so reading-based learners probably won’t need much help – but you should still try Lorka’s Summarizer and Chat with PDF functions. You could even use the former to set exactly how much detail
Kinesthetic
If you’d rather get more involved with the material, you could ask any of Lorka’s bots for sample exam questions or quizzes. ChatGPT may be the best choice here; I’ve found it especially good at reframing the same information in new contexts.
Making Your Own Study Materials
Sometimes, you’re not lucky enough to have a textbook on hand to summarize. You might have a vague topic, and your instructor’s materials might not have been clear (or they might not have made them available after the lecture).
Luckily, Lorka lets you take matters into your own hands. Its built-in Learn app lets you ask it for help with virtually any topic. This has four “levels” from Beginner all the way to Expert – plus you can ask for:
- Detailed explanations
- Practical examples
- Step-by-step guides
- Quizzes
For example, I asked Learn to generate an “Advanced” explanation of attachment theory to suit my on-the-side love for psychology. The output was mostly what I expected, and I learned a few things that I didn’t already know. I quizzed myself after, too.
Alternatively, you can ask Claude (or one of the other usual suspects) to put the information into slides. You can then simply copy and paste the outputs into PowerPoint or a similar app. You’re in full control of how the material reaches you.
Verdict: Lorka is a Great Study Aid, Not a Replacement
Of course, the question on every student’s mind now is probably “Can Lorka write my papers for me?” Technically, there’s nothing stopping you from asking it that. But I’d hold off. Not because it won’t do a good job, but because you’re there (and spending all that money) to learn.
Asking an AI to write your homework for you isn’t letting you engage with the material. And even if you’re a reading-based learner, actually writing the work yourself is better for understanding it.
To sum up… Lorka AI is excellent when you need help studying. You’ll learn everything that’s in your textbook, plus you’ll have free rein to build other materials that best fit your study style.
