Pictured (L-R): Julia Grove, Arshia Eslami, Matthew Linder
Three computer science and engineering undergraduates have teamed up to create an artificial intelligence (AI) toolkit designed to help students study more efficiently. Junior Arshia Eslami and seniors Julia Grove and Matthew Linder launched the toolkit on their website, JAMAi, in late March.
These classmates, now also friends, discovered they complemented each other’s talents after working together inside and outside of the classroom. Eslami and Linder met while interning together at Swampfox Technologies in Columbia, while Eslami and Grove met during a hackathon, a programming competition for improving or building new software programs. Eslami introduced Linder and Grove, and the three decided to merge their strengths to create one product that would help their fellow students.
“We all have different capabilities and each took a part,” Eslami says. “We do everything together, but we came up with different tasks so that we don’t get in each other’s way.”
“Julia and Arshia are very good at training and prompting machine learning models, and I do a lot of the front-end development,” Linder added.
The idea for JAMAi was born when the group studied for a test using flash cards and wondered if they could build a digital tool to do the same job. The resulting site allows users to upload notes in a variety of formats including PDF, PowerPoint, plain text or images that are immediately generated into flash cards.
“The tool can help students more efficiently prepare for any course that requires memorization,” Linder says.
“The team is doing an excellent job. The site is super clean and well-designed,” says Computer Science and Engineering Instructor Portia Plante. “When I uploaded my lecture slides, it was able to extract the most important information and make flash cards. I'm proud to be able to say I was their teacher.”
The group anticipates adding additional tools in the near future, such as a text editor with AI assistance capabilities. This would allow users to create and edit text and check spelling and grammar, while incorporating AI functionality without having to use an external source such as ChatGPT.
In creating JAMAi, Eslami, Grove and Linder found they applied concepts they learned inside the classroom as well as through internships and competitions, in developing their real-world product. These concepts include programming architecture, software engineering, operating systems and computer networking. It also included research experience and the legalities associated with AI.
“I’m taking a Trusted AI class that addresses high level concerns to be aware of when building an application like this,” says Grove. “AI can be unpredictable, and a lot goes into making sure a site is reliable from a legal standpoint.”
JAMAi currently offers one free set of flash cards as well as monthly and annual payment options allowing for unlimited use. Students are invited to test the toolkit and offer feedback through the site.
“Our main goal is to come up with tools that students want and integrate them with a product they are already using, such as Blackboard, so they don’t have to use five different sites for assignments,” Eslami says. “Our vision is to streamline things for students.”