In January 2024, SMU launched a design thinking bot aimed at helping students approach problem-solving with a more human-centred lens. Senior Lecturer of Information Systems Kiruthika Ramanathan, who co-developed the tool, said it is designed to push computer science students to look beyond technical fixes and consider real user needs from the outset. SMU SCIS student Ong Swee Long, who used the bot in a sustainability course exploring solutions to reduce food waste on campus, shared that the prompts encouraged him to effectively challenge assumptions, speak to stakeholders in person and to develop solutions by viewing the issue from new perspectives.
