Students develop AI assistant

By Arjun Kafle,Syangja, May 18:  Kushal Pokharel and Ashal Pokharel of Bhattikhan, Phedikhola Rural Municipality–1, have developed an AI assistant named ‘Joya’.

Both grade 12 Computer Science students at Chandidanda Secondary School created the assistant under the municipality’s IT project using Python programming as part of their Computer Science studies.

Kushal Pokharel said the project was developed over nearly six months with support from their IT teacher, Bishal Lamichhane, during classroom learning.

According to Pokharel, Joya works as a digital assistant through a laptop or computer and can perform tasks based on user commands, including playing songs, opening YouTube, accessing websites, launching Google Chrome and providing information about time and weather.

Pokharel said they learned to build the system while exploring AI and YouTube tutorials. 

However, Joya currently does not have features such as image generation or a database. 

Although the aim was to develop something similar to ChatGPT, the assistant is still in its early stage and currently runs only on personal computers. He said there are plans to make it more advanced in the future.

Their teacher Lamichhane said students were encouraged to create something innovative, and Joya was developed from that idea. 

He added that while it is suitable as a student project, it also has the potential for more practical and professional uses in the future.

Lamichhane said the assistant robot linked to Joya currently moves using a remote control rather than programming, but there are plans to make it fully programmable in the coming days.

He added that the programme was developed while learning and the name “Joya” was chosen out of happiness. The system works through a control programme, while tasks are carried out by the robot.

The project was showcased at the First Science and Technology Exhibition organised by Phedikhola Rural Municipality, highlighting the potential for locally developed digital innovation.

Rural Municipality chairperson Ghanshyam Subedi said Joya represents the creativity and innovation of students in rural areas.

Phedikhola Rural Municipality has been running the “One School, One IT Teacher” programme for the past six years, expanding IT labs and digital education at the school level. 

IT classes are currently being conducted in all nine secondary schools in the municipality, with around 1,600 students involved in IT education.

Subedi said the municipality has continued its IT campaign despite limited resources, aiming to make community schools more technology-friendly.

It is expected that expanding technology-based education at the local level will help produce a workforce capable of competing in the global market in the future.