From Problem to Prototype

Let's Talk About AI

  • How often do you use AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot)?
  • What do you use them for?
  • Have you ever tried to build something with AI?
  • What do you think AI can and cannot do?

What would you build?

Finding Your Own Pain Points

Think about your daily life and studies:

  • What repetitive tasks do you do every day/week?
  • What tedious processes frustrate you?
  • What information do you wish was easier to access?
  • What problems do you keep running into?

Write down 2-3 pain points on paper.

Look Around: Other People's Problems

Sometimes the best ideas come from observing others:

  • What do you see your friends or roommates complaining about?
  • What inefficiencies have you noticed in clubs or student organizations?
  • Is there a startup idea you've been thinking about for a while?
  • What tools or services do people around you wish existed?

Write down 2-3 observations or ideas.

Step 1: One Sentence

Imagine you could build any app to solve one of those problems.

Write ONE sentence describing your app idea:

"An app that ____________ for ____________."

Example: "An app that tracks my coffee spending for students on a budget."

Step 2: Get Specific

Now add more details:

  1. Who would use it? (yourself? friends? a specific group?)
  2. What's the core feature? (the ONE thing it must do)
  3. What problem does it solve? (connect back to your pain point)

Write your answers on paper.

Step 3: Iterate with Feedback

Let's refine your idea:

  • Is it too broad? Narrow it down.
  • Is it too vague? Add concrete details.
  • What would be the MVP (Minimum Viable Product)?

Share with a neighbor. Get feedback. Revise.

Try It Yourself: Vibe Coding

  • Use any AI tool to turn your idea into code.
    • Recommended: Replit (no local setup needed)
  • Round 1: Paste your one-sentence description → See what it generates
    • Tip: Add "using Python" to your prompt so the code matches what we'll learn.
  • Round 2: Create another app. Paste your revised specs (Step 2-3) → Watch it improve

Keep Your Idea!

  • Save your app idea
  • You might use it for your Final Project
  • Or build it as a Mini Project along the way

The best projects come from real problems you want to solve.