You’ve got your textbook, your notes and a study group, but sometimes, a little extra help can make all the difference.
For three Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) students, that extra help comes in the form of an artificial intelligence (AI) app they developed to support students preparing for exams across a variety of subjects.
“Originally, we centered the app around math, but we shifted to technology since it’s growing and AI is taking over the market,” said Keyvaun Herring, a Lilburn resident and GGC senior majoring in IT with a systems and cybersecurity concentration.
The app, called Pi, takes its name from the mathematical ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. Even after pivoting to a broader technology focus, the team kept the name and incorporated a pie graphic into the app’s design.
How does Pi help students study?
“You can give it a subject, and it will generate short quiz questions based on specific pieces of information,” said Lorena Salazar, a Winder resident and senior majoring in IT with a concentration in systems and cybersecurity.
Beyond practice questions, Pi also creates flashcards and customized study plans, allowing users to tailor their experience.
“You can even choose how many flashcards you want to study,” said Kyla Thorpe, a Suwanee resident and junior majoring in IT with a concentration in systems and cybersecurity.
The app took approximately two months to develop, offering the students valuable hands-on experience.
“This is one of my first AI projects, so I learned a lot of Python,” said Thorpe. “I also learned how to integrate AI into a real-world application.”
Throughout the process, the team discovered that building an app requires more than technical skills.
“It’s been a new experience to apply everything we’ve learned during our studies in cybersecurity and software development,” said Herring. “You also have to know how to work effectively as a team.”
While Pi is not yet widely available, the students hope to expand its capabilities in the future.
“We’d like to make it more comprehensive and cover more subjects,” said Thorpe. “But Pi is designed to help you study—not do the work for you.”
As graduation approaches, each student is preparing for the next step in their journey.
Herring is currently seeking internships, with plans to secure a full-time role at a financial firm specializing in Java.
Salazar is looking for a fall internship, where she hopes to explore different areas within IT.
“That experience will help me figure out what I want to specialize in,” she said.
For Thorpe, the future includes continuing her education.
“I’ll see where the wind takes me,” she said. “But I definitely want to pursue a master’s degree in cybersecurity.”
Photo caption: Kyla Thorpe, Keyvaun Herring and Lorena Salazar unveil their AI driven "Study Buddy" app on Thursday, April 9, 2026 in the digital media lab in Building H. The AI platform supports students in organizing coursework, strengthening study habits and improve academic performance. Photo Daniel Melograna/GGC
View and download AI-powered study buddy app gallery images and b-roll.