When Justin Irabor, a web developer and data science student, enrolled in a distance learning program at the International University of Applied Sciences in Germany, he quickly realized he needed help managing the dual demands of work and study. Balancing his professional life with academic obligations was proving difficult, especially without a consistent study partner. Synchronizing schedules with others became nearly impossible, leading him to turn to technology for a solution. That’s when Irabor began experimenting with artificial intelligence (AI), eventually creating his personal study assistant: Kainene vos Savant.
Kainene is no ordinary chatbot. Inspired by Marilyn vos Savant, one of the most intelligent individuals in history, Kainene was designed to be more than just an assistant. Irabor trained Kainene using his own textbooks, enabling her to explain complex academic concepts and serve as his intellectual equal. Unlike popular AI assistants like Alexa or Siri, which are typically tasked with routine functions, Kainene was built to be a conversational partner capable of deep, thoughtful interactions. Irabor wanted to challenge the conventional narrative of AI assistants by creating a female chatbot who could perform at a high intellectual level.
Kainene started as a personal project but quickly gained attention. As Irabor shared his progress on Twitter, followers became intrigued, with many requesting access to the chatbot. This surge in interest prompted Irabor to expand Kainene’s capabilities, adapting her from his personal study companion to a tool that could be used by others. He upgraded her AI model and wrote custom logic that allowed individual users to interact with Kainene in their own unique conversations. By March 2023, Kainene vos Savant was ready for public use, launching to great enthusiasm, with over a thousand users joining on the first day alone.
Kainene’s appeal lies not only in her ability to assist with academic tasks but also in the flexibility she offers. Now hosted on Telegram, the chatbot has become an invaluable tool for thousands, helping users with everything from understanding complex topics to managing daily tasks. Irabor attributes this success to the growing public interest in AI and its applications, particularly in education and personal productivity. The development of Kainene vos Savant came at a pivotal time, as AI technology was gaining prominence globally. The 2019 Deloitte report highlighted the transformative potential of conversational AI, predicting a rapid increase in AI-derived business value over the coming years. With the rise of AI tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, public perception of AI’s capabilities has shifted, and more people are now integrating these technologies into their daily lives. Irabor sees this trend continuing, with conversational AI becoming as ubiquitous as the internet itself.
However, Kainene’s rapid growth wasn’t without challenges. Shortly after her public release, the server handling user requests crashed due to the overwhelming demand. Irabor was quick to increase capacity, ensuring that Kainene could handle the influx of new users. Today, the chatbot has a user base of over 3,000 people, and while Irabor has implemented a paid subscription model, he remains focused on improving the user experience rather than scaling too quickly. Kainene vos Savant represents more than just a technological achievement for Irabor, it is a step toward normalizing AI in Africa. He envisions a future where AI seamlessly integrates into everyday tasks, helping people without them even realizing it. As Kainene continues to evolve, Irabor is working on expanding her accessibility, with plans to launch on platforms like Google Docs and Chrome Extensions. Though introducing Kainene to apps like WhatsApp presents challenges due to the platform’s semi-open-source nature, Irabor is determined to bring the AI assistant to as many users as possible.
Despite the financial costs involved in maintaining Kainene’s server and infrastructure, Irabor remains committed to keeping the service affordable. Users can currently access the AI chatbot for a monthly subscription with a three-day trial available for new users. While scaling the business is a consideration, Irabor’s priority is on enhancing the experience for those already using Kainene. As AI adoption grows across Africa, Kainene vos Savant stands as an innovative example of how AI can be adapted to meet the unique needs of users on the continent. With over 47% of African countries identified as ready for AI penetration, according to a 2022 Oxford Insights report, the potential for AI technologies like Kainene is vast.
