02 Nov 2026
On Thursday evening, more than 100 students gathered in the lecture theatre at International Business School Suzhou (IBSS), Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, to build their own AI-powered job search tools using Tencent WorkBuddy.
Some wanted to keep up with industry news. Others hoped to organise their internship applications more effectively. For some, it was the first time they had discovered that they could turn an idea into a working tool with AI.
Held on 22 October, the first AI Builder Meetup attracted 154 participants and showcased over 100 student projects. Under the theme Build Your First AI Tool: Your Internship Assistant, the event encouraged students to explore how AI could support their studies and career development through hands-on practice.
The event was organised by the IBSS Student Development and Support (SDS) team, with support from the IBSS AI Task Force (AITF), Datawhale and the XJTLU Artificial Intelligence Association (AAI).
Guests included Associate Professor Xiangyun Lu, Head of the IBSS AI Task Force; Associate Professor Jie Li, Director of the MSc Investment Management programme; Helen Hou, Head of SDS and a globally certified career development professional; and Bobby Zhang, a fourth-year student and a Dify Developer Relations and Technical Support Intern.
Everyone can start with an idea
“Everyone can build something.”
This was the message shared by Xiaoyu Zhang from SDS, who hosted the event. Inspired by Silicon Valley’s builder culture, AI Builder Meetup encourages people to create tools that address their own needs. The meetup format also brings people together to exchange ideas and learn from each other, which is valuable in the AI era.
For students preparing for their careers, building a practical AI tool can also provide valuable material for CVs and interviews. The process of identifying a problem, working with AI, testing solutions and making improvements helps students demonstrate their AI skills through real examples.
Bobby Zhang shared how he developed a digital twin AI agent and proactively approached Dify, which eventually led to an internship opportunity. His experience showed how personal projects can help students demonstrate their abilities and connect with industry. He also encouraged students to explore AI through real projects while developing independent judgement, creativity and communication skills.
Turning job search challenges into practical AI tools
Internship information can be scattered across platforms, application progress can be difficult to track, and interview reflections are easily forgotten. Two student-led demonstrations tackled these everyday challenges.
The Internship Application Dashboard brings application records, progress tracking, interview reflections and personal projects together in one place. Student presenter Zhengyu Liu also shared the challenges he encountered when building the tool, including data storage and decisions about which features to prioritise.
The Industry Intelligence Radar, presented by Yangyang Yan, gathers updates and internship opportunities based on users’ interests in particular industries and companies. Scheduled tasks keep the information updated, helping students explore opportunities and develop commercial awareness, an important skill for business school students.
After the demonstrations, students began building their own tools, with support from staff, student presenters and AAI members. Through experimentation and peers sharing, they learned to express their needs clearly, test generated features and refine their ideas.
The showcase space featured more than 100 student projects spanning job search management, industry intelligence, learning and daily life. Three projects received the Innovation Awards, judged on product innovation, user experience, practical value and technical implementation. Students who completed and uploaded their projects also received an AI Skills Certificate jointly issued by IBSS and Datawhale.
A first attempt opens up new possibilities
“I was amazed by how much a short prompt could generate,” said Lan Yang, a first-year master’s student in Project Management. On her first attempt with Tencent WorkBuddy, she created a dashboard featuring game company profiles and relevant internships drawn from Nowcoder and Shixiseng. Complete with game cover images, it offered a visually engaging way to explore the industry and its career opportunities. Encouraged by the result, she plans to refine the project and showcase it on her CV.
For Sanaa Jadoui, a student on the MSc Business Analytics programme, it was also her first time using WorkBuddy. She was particularly impressed by the ability to build tools using natural language and automate tasks on a schedule. Her project, Business Analytics Intelligence Radar, brings industry news, internship tracking and learning resources together in one workspace. She saw how AI could help her find opportunities matching her skills and experience, and looked forward to exploring its uses in her studies and job search.
From identifying a problem to creating something they could demonstrate, test and improve, the first AI Builder Meetup helped students take a first step towards building with AI. IBSS will continue to offer opportunities for practical learning and exchange, supporting students’ academic and career development while helping more ideas grow into working projects.
Click here to explore the student projects
撰稿、摄影：刘译丹
审核：陈晓璇
02 Nov 2026