It’s hardly surprising that Artificial Intelligence has made its way into the city’s classrooms. Students are turning to ChatGPT as their undemanding homework buddy, and as mid-day reported earlier this week, colleges too are gearing to use AI to evaluate students this academic year. Amid this AI tug of war, Fia Inamdar, a 17-year-old Mumbaikar, feels another age-old problem could use an AI relook. Her new project, CyBud, is an empathetic chatbot that acts as a student’s confidante and advisor in cases of online and real-life bullying.

“I wanted to create a buddy who listens empathetically and keeps your secrets safe. While most schools have in-house counsellors, there is a certain stigma attached to consulting them. If your peers find out you’ve paid the counsellor’s office a visit, you risk becoming the target of gossip,” says Inamdar. “It is crucial for young people to experience empathy early on. We’re cheering for Fia as she sets out to make a difference,” her mother Parul reiterates. A coding enthusiast fluent in programming languages like C++ and Python, the student has combined her two passions to build the chatbot.