Higher Education Category Submission

861 – YoChatGPT!

YoChatGPT! is an innovative platform designed specifically to address the challenges faced by students in collaborative learning environments. By allowing users to create dedicated chat rooms for various courses or specific tasks, such as a CV customization room, the platform tailors the learning experience to meet individual needs.
One of the main issues with traditional chatbots is the inconvenience of retrieving previous chats and having to re-upload materials repeatedly. YoChatGPT! solves this problem by remembering all uploaded materials, ensuring that students do not have to upload the same documents multiple times. This feature streamlines the learning process and enhances efficiency.
Additionally, the platform incorporates note-taking and task management capabilities, enabling students to leave notes, draw, and outline tasks directly within their chat rooms. This functionality promotes organization and helps students manage their projects more effectively. Whether working individually or collaboratively, students can easily keep track of their progress and important information.
For teamwork on projects, YoChatGPT! provides a common chat room where students can collaborate seamlessly using AI. This integration allows for real-time discussions, sharing of resources, and collective problem-solving, fostering a sense of community and shared ownership among participants.
Overall, YoChatGPT! aims to revolutionize the educational experience with generative AI by offering a comprehensive solution that enhances collaboration, organization, and accessibility in higher education. By addressing the specific needs of students, our platform contributes to a more inclusive and effective learning ecosystem.

• YoChatGPT-AIREA-Competition-Student-1.pdf

The inspiration for developing YoChatGPT! arose from the recognition of significant challenges faced by students in higher education, particularly regarding collaboration and organization. During my academic journey, I observed that many students struggled to efficiently manage their learning materials and engage in collaborative projects with generative AI effectively. Traditional chat platforms often led to disorganized communication, making it difficult for students to retrieve previous discussions or uploaded resources. This prompted me to explore a dedicated chatroom platform tailored to enhance collaborative learning experiences.
The hypothesis underlying this project is that by creating a user-friendly environment where students can create specialized chat rooms for different courses or tasks, we can significantly improve their engagement and organizational skills. The ability to remember uploaded materials eliminates the frustration of re-uploading documents, while integrated note-taking and task management features empower students to stay organized and focused on their learning objectives. By fostering a sense of community through collaborative chat rooms, students can work more effectively on group projects and share knowledge with peers.
We know this project will succeed because it directly addresses the pain points experienced by students using generative AI in higher education. By leveraging generative AI and providing a platform that is specifically designed for self-regulated learning and collaboration, we can create a more efficient and inclusive learning environment. The positive feedback from educators and students on the need for such a solution further supports this hypothesis, indicating a strong demand for innovative tools that enhance the educational experience. With YoChatGPT!, we aim to transform how students interact, organize, and collaborate, ultimately contributing to their academic success and personal growth.

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YoChatGPT!'s architecture centers around interactive chat rooms (or workspaces), each linked to multiple LLMs. We have over 10 models on our platform, 7 of which are open-sourced from OpenRouter (e.g., Llama, Gemini, Mistral, Qwen, etc) and 3 are proprietary: namely, GPT4o mini and Dall-E from Microsoft Azure’s OpenAI API. Users access the platform through a web interface, sending and receiving messages within these rooms. The backend handles user authentication, message routing, LLM interaction, and data persistence. Key innovative features include: (1) Multi-LLM access: Users select their preferred LLM for each query, promoting comparative learning. (2) STEM tools: Math handwriting recognition and diagram generation are implemented using libraries like MathJax and TikZ/Matplotlib, respectively.] (3) Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) allows upload of learning materials and our “RAG” bot uses Microsoft Azure’s OpenAI “Embeddings” API to generates vector representations of input text to be imputed into the GPT4o-mini LLM model. (4) Contextualized Rooms: This allows the LLM chosen to remember the last 50 messages in the chatroom to support collaborative group discussion and problem solving.
The project follows an iterative design and development process, starting with core multi-user anonymous chat room functionality, and then adding our first LLM model (GPT3.5), and then progressively integrating innovative features. More precisely, we added more LLMs (open-sourced + Dall-E), math handwriting recognition, drawing functionality, voting functionality, contextualized rooms, text-to-scientific-diagram functionality, and, finally, RAG. Performance metrics include user engagement (active users and demographics through our Google Analytics tags on our website yochatgpt.io), learning outcomes (pre/post surveys, assessment scores), and platform stability (uptime, response time). The implementation work plan involves frontend development (React), backend development (Node.js, MongoDB), LLM integration (API calls), and continuous testing/refinement based on user feedback. The project's functions are directly tied to the chosen technologies. For example, React enables a dynamic user interface, while Node.js and MongoDB provide a robust backend for real-time interaction and data management. Current progress includes a functional prototype with core chatroom features and initial integration of multiple LLMs.

YoChatGPT! represents an innovative and creative solution to the challenges of collaboration and organization faced by students in learning with generative AI in higher education. By allowing users to create dedicated chat rooms for specific courses or tasks, the platform transforms the traditional learning experience into a dynamic, tailored environment that promotes active engagement. This customization of chat rooms directly addresses the problem of disorganization and inefficiency often associated with conventional chat platforms, where students struggle to retrieve past discussions and resources.
The integration of multiple large language models (LLMs) within each chatroom is a key innovation. This feature not only provides diverse perspectives and expertise but also allows students to access a wide range of knowledge resources, enhancing their learning experiences. By enabling collaborative problem-solving and knowledge sharing, YoChatGPT! fosters a sense of community among users, which is crucial for effective learning.
Furthermore, the platform's unique features, such as the ability to remember uploaded materials (through RAG) and integrated note-taking and task management tools, demonstrate creativity in addressing user challenges. These functionalities streamline the workflow for students, reducing the burden of re-uploading documents and helping them stay organized and focused on their tasks. The combination of gamified elements, like reward systems for participation, adds an interactive layer that enhances student motivation and engagement.
In the future, we plan to implement prompt templates and workflows for further individual and collaborative teamwork with generative AI. In addition, adding text-to-speech capabilities and making a native iOS and Android app will turn YoChatGPT! into a personal AI learning companion for students, and a personal AI teaching assistant for teachers.
Overall, YoChatGPT! not only addresses the specific pain points experienced by students but also redefines how they interact with each other and their learning materials. By fostering collaboration, promoting organization, and leveraging generative AI technologies, the platform stands out as an innovative solution that enhances the educational experience and prepares students for success in a rapidly evolving academic landscape.

YoChatGPT! is built to scale. The platform's architecture, using technologies like Node.js and MongoDB, allows for horizontal scaling to handle increasing user demand. We're also optimizing database management to prevent bottlenecks and ensure smooth performance even with a large number of concurrent users and chat rooms. Load balancing and caching strategies will further enhance scalability as the user base grows. We're actively addressing the reported lag and unresponsiveness issues to ensure a seamless user experience.
Sustainability is key. We're not just talking about server uptime; we're talking about long-term user engagement and adapting to evolving educational needs. YoChatGPT!'s freemium model allows users to create one public room and keep it for 30 days free or 50 messages (maximum - either calls to LLMs or messages in the chat); basic RAG (2 uploads with less than 2MB). Our tiered subscription contains pro and enterprise/custom pricing. The professional subscription package costs US$25/month or US$250/year for up to 10 private chat rooms, unlimited messages, advanced RAG (up to 100 uploads), expanded use of proprietary models, such as text to scientific diagram. The enterprise subscription will be customized and priced accordingly.
We’ve already had requests for white label solutions to adapt one of our RAG chat rooms for uploading the Robot Institute of Hong Kong’s (rihk.com) learning materials and videos to provide personalized tutoring for parents and students at home when they are building their robots. In addition, students have been asking for DSE exam specialized rooms for their studies.
We're exploring partnerships with educational institutions for wider adoption and a more sustainable revenue model. Continuous improvement and iteration based on user feedback are baked into our development process. We're committed to refining the UI/UX, expanding LLM integrations, and enhancing STEM features to meet evolving user needs and maintain long-term engagement. We're also focusing on clearly communicating the pedagogical value of YoChatGPT! to resonate with educators and ensure its long-term relevance in the educational landscape.

YoChatGPT! is committed to driving positive social impact by aligning its mission and vision with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
By democratizing access to AI-powered learning, YoChatGPT! is working to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education with generative AI for all students, regardless of their socioeconomic background. The platform's free tier and partnerships with educational institutions help break down financial barriers, enabling underserved communities to benefit from the transformative potential of generative AI.
Moreover, YoChatGPT!'s collaborative nature and multi-user functionality foster an inclusive learning environment where students can connect, share knowledge, and learn from each other. The platform's anonymity features also encourage safe engagement, without any fear or anxiety from the students. This aligns with the goal to reduce inequalities by providing equal opportunities for students to develop essential 21st-century skills, such as AI literacy, digital competency, critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity.
To measure the social impact of YoChatGPT!, the team closely monitors user demographics, platform accessibility, and user feedback. By tracking engagement across different socioeconomic and geographic groups, the platform can identify and address any disparities, ensuring equitable access to its innovative features.
Furthermore, the team is committed to regularly gathering feedback from diverse user groups, including students, educators, and educational stakeholders, to understand their evolving needs and adapt the platform accordingly. This responsiveness to the community's changing requirements is crucial for maximizing the positive impact of YoChatGPT! on students' holistic development.
By empowering students through collaborative, AI-driven learning experiences and breaking down barriers to quality education, YoChatGPT! is poised to play a transformative role in fostering a more equitable and inclusive future for learners around the world.

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