How Phil Works

Understanding Phil's teaching approach, capabilities, and the reply system.

Introduction

Phil is your AI teacher built on real-time voice technology. He provides personalized learning through natural voice conversations, adapting to your pace and understanding.

Voice-to-Voice Conversations

Real-time responses: Phil processes your speech and responds immediately
Natural interruptions: Interrupt Phil anytime to ask follow-ups
Context awareness: Phil remembers what you've discussed in the session
Text input: Click the Type button or Phil's name to type instead of speak
Push to Talk: Optional mode where you hold a button to speak

Teaching Approach

Socratic Method

Phil asks guiding questions to help you discover answers yourself, promoting deeper understanding rather than just giving answers to copy.

Scaffolding

Breaks complex topics into manageable chunks, building on what you already know.

Active Learning

Encourages you to work through problems and explain concepts back rather than passively listening.

Study Tools Phil Can Create

Practice Problems

Say "give me a practice problem" and Phil creates problems tailored to your topic. Types include multiple choice, fill-in-blank, short answer, math, true/false, and discussion. Get instant feedback, hints, and explanations.

Visual Explanations

Ask Phil to "break it down step by step" and he creates interactive, multi-step visual breakdowns with explanations and examples. Navigate through steps at your own pace.

Flashcards & Quizzes

Request "create flashcards for this" and Phil generates cards covering key concepts. You can also create quiz sets with multiple choice, short answer, and true/false questions. All save to your selection.

Phil Everywhere

Phil Widget

A floating Phil button appears on every dashboard page. Click it for a quick text chat. Highlight any text and click "Ask Phil" for an instant explanation.

Help Mode

Click the Help icon in the Phil widget header (or the "Help" button in the sidebar) to switch Phil to Help mode. In this mode, Phil answers questions about how to use AquaEdge instead of tutoring.

Phil's Memory

Phil remembers your interests, learning preferences, and progress across sessions. Access your memories from the session start screen.

Subject Expertise

Phil can teach across virtually any topic:

Math (algebra, calculus, statistics)
Sciences (chemistry, physics, biology)
Humanities (history, literature, philosophy)
Languages (grammar, vocabulary, writing)
Computer science and programming
Test preparation (SAT, ACT, AP exams)
Music, art, and more

Phil Replies

AquaEdge uses a reply-based system. Each AI response counts as one "Phil reply."

What costs a reply

Voice sessions: 1 reply each time Phil finishes speaking
EdgeAI chat: 1 reply per message sent
Image uploads: 1 reply per image transcribed (OCR)
Flashcard generation: 1 reply per generation (regardless of card count)
Quiz generation: 1 reply per generation
Text to Speech: 1 reply per read-aloud

What's free (no replies used)

Session summaries after ending a session
Uploading PDFs and text materials
Creating and reviewing flashcards manually
Creating and practicing quizzes manually
Viewing stats, history, and dashboard
All settings and configuration

How far do replies go?

500 replies: Study 3-4 times a week with ~15-20 exchanges per session — covers a full month
1,000 replies: Study daily or have longer sessions — plenty for the whole month
Unlimited: Never think about it. Study as much as you want.

Plans

Free: 50 replies/month
Study Starter 1x: $22/mo — 500 replies
Study Starter 2x: $32/mo — 1,000 replies
Study Buddy: $92/mo — Unlimited

Replies reset every 30 days from your signup date.

Limitations

Phil may occasionally make mistakes — verify important information
Works best when you provide clear questions and context
Audio quality and internet connection affect conversation quality
Sessions have a 30-minute handoff limit (seamless reconnect available)

Next Steps

Learn about Phil's states, learning sessions, or study tools.