A 13-year-old student, Zhu Shuhan from Shanghai, China, has developed an AI-powered application called Zai Chang to monitor homework completion. Within three days, the project received 86 orders, generating ¥18,295 (approximately $2,700) in revenue, according to local media.
The service uses a computer or smartphone camera to detect when a child is distracted from studying, leaves their workspace, or starts using a phone. In such cases, a “virtual parent” appears on the screen to remind them to return to their tasks. After the session, the app generates a concentration report.
To create a digital character, users can upload a photo of a parent. The camera periodically takes snapshots, which are sent to the cloud for recognition. Zhu emphasized that images are deleted after analysis and no continuous video recording is conducted.
Zhu’s younger brother, who is preparing to start elementary school, was the first to test Zai Chang.
The Idea Stemmed from Personal Experience
Zhu’s parents work long hours, so she often does her homework independently. She admitted that during these times, she sometimes gets distracted by her phone.
Before developing the app, Zhu also surveyed her classmates, many of whom reported the same issue.
“When I do homework, I inevitably get distracted and secretly play on my phone. So I wanted to create a digital ‘clone’ of my parents,” Zhu explained.
Initially, the service could display an “angry mom” and send messages to parents about their child’s distractions. Later, Zhu decided to remove these features, leaving only reminders.
“I don’t like to tattle. I want [Zai Chang] to be softer and give the child some space,” she said.
Zhu was introduced to AI about a year ago and studied the technology independently. According to her father, she used educational websites and available online tools, asking a chatbot for clarification on unclear questions.
Zhu has limited traditional programming skills. In developing Zai Chang, she described tasks to a large language model in plain language. The AI helped structure the app’s logic and generated code, which Zhu then tested and debugged herself.
The sources do not specify which AI services were used.
The Project Earned About $2,700 in Three Days
From August 21-23, Zhu presented Zai Chang at the Markethon competition in Hangzhou. The event featured 59 teams, with results based on actual product sales.
Zhu completed a working version of the service just a day before the event. During the first public demonstration, she encountered issues: she initially forgot her account details, and one system alert appeared with a delay.
Despite these challenges, the project secured third place. During the competition, users placed 86 orders totaling ¥18,295 (~$2,700), and Zhu received ¥5,000 (~$740) in prize money.
An annual subscription to the service was priced at ¥99 (~$15), while a lifetime subscription was ¥199 (~$30).
Over 60 orders were placed online. Zhu’s mother helped promote the product through live streams and short videos on social media, while Zhu joined the broadcasts to answer potential buyers’ questions. She also sold more than ten subscriptions in person at the event.
After Markethon, Zhu continued to work on the service. She monitors usage statistics daily through an admin panel and collects customer feedback via the Chinese messaging app WeChat.
Earlier, in April, China launched a national plan to integrate artificial intelligence into education, covering schools, universities, and vocational training.
