In a groundbreaking summer project, three of the College’s undergraduate NatSci students developed an innovative AI assistant that could transform how information is accessed and shared within the College environment in future. Led by a recent Churchill graduate with expertise in digital technologies, the project represents an exciting exploration of artificial intelligence’s potential in an academic setting.
The AI assistant, currently a prototype housed in the Bill Brown Creative Workshop (BBCW), integrated advanced language model technology with voice generation capabilities. Developed by students Victor Coldea, Mridul Shrestha, and Damien Dooley, the project aims to create an interactive information point that can respond to queries about College facilities, events, and resources.
“What makes this unique is how we’ve put different pieces of technology together,” explained the project lead, alumnus Bang Ming Yong, who volunteered his time and expertise to bring the project to life. The assistant runs on a customised GPT-4 model that has been specifically trained on College website information, allowing it to provide tailored responses to student and visitor queries.
The project’s potential applications are wide-ranging. Initially conceived as a guide for the Bill Brown Creative Workshops, future deployments could also extend to locations like the Porter’s Lodge or Buttery, where the AI could provide real-time information about facility availability, menu options, or campus events.
Inspiration and Collaboration: bringing the project to life
For Bang, the project provided the perfect opportunity to use his growing expertise in the field of AI.
Bang, a past winner of the Churchill Enterprise Competition in 2019, is currently running a technology startup based in Cambridge, Bang Technologies. His startup is currently developing new methods to engage students to learn STEM and history using a combination of technologies such as virtual reality VR and AI.
The main motivation for Bang’s involvement was to work on a fun side project largely inspired by Jarvis, the AI assistant featured in Tony Stark’s 2008 superhero film, Iron Man. He feels that Churchill College’s innovation-friendly environment was instrumental in attracting bright, motivated students to the project. “Everyone, from the Master of the College to the Fellows and students, was supportive of the project! Churchill really is the perfect place for anyone passionate about building and creating cool things!”
For the student developers, the project was more than just a technical challenge. Victor Coldea highlighted the collaborative learning experience, explaining, “I learnt how to code as part of a team – sharing code snippets with collaborators who were working on different parts of the project allowed us all to make good progress.”
Mridul pointed to the project’s broader educational value. “The project forced me to problem solve and step out of my comfort zone, learning about new Python modules,” he said. “But just as important were the teamwork skills I developed, communicating progress, responding to feedback, and meeting deadlines.”
The collaboration started with a day-long computer building workshop led by Bang, with two of the student developers, Damien and Victor. Their experience sparked interest in Bang’s AI assistant project, and they volunteered their evenings and weekends to bring the concept to life, alongside fellow student Mridul.
Learning, growth, and future possibilities
For the students, the project offered more than just technical skills. As Damien reflected, “Study can get intense and all-consuming, and I found having this little project helped me remember that I do enjoy challenging myself and learning new skills.” For him, the opportunity was about more than future career prospects – it was about personal growth and enjoying the process of learning.
While current limitations mean the assistant doesn’t yet have a visual interface, the team’s long-term vision is ambitious. Future iterations could potentially include features like sustainability data analysis, voice-activated information retrieval, and even personalized interactions with alumni using voice recreation technologies.
Funding remains a critical consideration, with the team seeking around £1,000 to further develop the prototype. As artificial intelligence continues to reshape various sectors, this student-led project offers a glimpse into how emerging technologies might transform educational experiences.
The project serves as a testament to Churchill College’s commitment to providing students with opportunities to explore cutting-edge technologies and develop skills beyond traditional academic boundaries.
If you’d like to support the student team in advancing their prototype, please contact Fran Malaree in the Development Office by emailing [email protected]
