Zhu Shuhan, a 13-year-old from Shanghai, launched Zai Chang, an AI app that helps students focus on homework, generating $2,700 in just three days.
A 13-year-old from Shanghai, Zhu Shuhan, has launched an innovative AI application named Zai Chang, designed to assist students in maintaining focus on their homework. The app quickly garnered attention, receiving 86 orders and earning ¥18,295 (approximately $2,700) within just three days.
Zai Chang employs the camera on a computer or smartphone to monitor student behavior, detecting distractions or when a student leaves their study area. Upon such detection, a "virtual parent" appears on the screen to encourage the student to refocus. The app provides users with a report on their concentration levels after each study session.
Users can create a digital character by uploading a photo of a parent. Periodic snapshots are taken and sent to the cloud for analysis, with Zhu assuring that images are deleted post-processing and no continuous recording is performed.
The app was first tested by Zhu's younger brother, who is preparing for primary school. Zhu's motivation stemmed from her own experiences, as she often finds herself distracted while completing homework alone due to her parents' busy schedules.
Motivation Behind the App
To address these distractions, Zhu conducted a survey among her classmates, discovering that many faced similar challenges. "When I do my homework, I inevitably get distracted and secretly play on my phone. That’s why I wanted to create a digital 'clone' of my parents," she explained.
The initial version of Zai Chang included a feature that would alert parents if their child got distracted, but Zhu later opted for a more supportive approach, focusing on gentle reminders instead. "I don't like to tattle. I want [Zai Chang] to be softer and allow the child some space," she stated.
Having learned about AI independently over the past year, Zhu utilized educational resources and online tools to develop the app. Although she lacks formal programming expertise, she effectively communicated tasks to a large language model, which assisted in coding and structuring the app's logic.
Successful Launch at Markethon Competition
Zai Chang was showcased at the Markethon competition in Hangzhou from August 21 to 23, where Zhu competed against 59 teams based on actual product sales. Completing the app just a day before the event, she faced challenges during her public demonstration, including issues with account credentials and notification delays.
Despite these setbacks, Zhu secured third place in the competition, with sales totaling ¥18,295 (~$2,700) and receiving a prize of ¥5,000 (~$740). An annual subscription for the app is priced at ¥99 (~$15), while a lifetime subscription is available for ¥199 (~$30).
Zhu's mother played a key role in promoting the app through social media live streams, while Zhu actively engaged with potential customers during the event, selling over ten subscriptions directly. After the competition, she continued to enhance the app by monitoring usage data and collecting feedback via WeChat.
Notably, this development aligns with China's national initiative launched in April to incorporate artificial intelligence into educational settings across schools, universities, and vocational training programs.
