{"id":102063,"date":"2026-08-04T14:58:53","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T18:58:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/?post_type=cu_story&#038;p=102063"},"modified":"2026-08-04T15:57:30","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T19:57:30","slug":"joe-speaking-app-ai-experiment","status":"publish","type":"cu_story","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/story\/joe-speaking-app-ai-experiment\/","title":{"rendered":"How a Carleton Grad&#8217;s AI Experiment Opened New Doors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-max  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n        \n                    \n                    \n            \n    <div class=\"cu-wideimage relative flex items-center justify-center mx-auto px-8 overflow-hidden md:px-16 rounded-xl not-prose  my-6 md:my-12 first:mt-0 bg-opacity-50 bg-cover bg-cu-black-50 py-24 md:py-28 lg:py-36 xl:py-48\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1920x1450-1-1600x700.jpg); background-position: 48% 0%;\">\n\n                    <div class=\"absolute top-0 w-full h-screen\" style=\"background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.600);\"><\/div>\n        \n        <div class=\"relative z-[2] max-w-4xl w-full flex flex-col items-center gap-2 cu-wideimage-image cu-zero-first-last\">\n            <header class=\"mx-auto mb-6 text-center text-white cu-pageheader cu-component-updated cu-pageheader--center md:mb-12\">\n\n                                    <h1 class=\"cu-prose-first-last font-semibold mb-2 text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl lg:leading-[3.5rem] cu-pageheader--center text-center mx-auto after:left-px\">\n                        How a Carleton Grad&#8217;s AI Experiment Opened New Doors\n                    <\/h1>\n                \n                            <\/header>\n        <\/div>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"I Built an AI Startup with 0 Coding Experience (Carleton Grad Story)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9rMfW0VxraQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>When Joe (Beiqiao) Hu arrived at Carleton University in 2024, he wasn&#8217;t just pursuing a graduate degree, he had three goals in mind: improve his English, establish himself in Canada and build something meaningful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Less than two years later, the <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/tim\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Technology Innovation Management (TIM)<\/a> graduate launched <a href=\"https:\/\/joespeaking.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Joe Speaking<\/a>, an AI-powered language-learning platform offering real-time conversation practice, personalized feedback and assessment. It serves more than 1,600 users, including more than 100 paying users and has secured an enterprise customer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The idea was inspired by Hu&#8217;s experience learning English and quickly evolved into something bigger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A man with glasses wearing a light coloured t-shirt smiles for the camera while pointing up.\" class=\"wp-image-102066\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-1-512x341.jpg 512w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-1-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-1-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Technology Innovation Management (TIM) graduate and Joe Speaking founder Joe (Beiqiao) Hu<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Hu came to Carleton from China, where he worked as a product manager in Beijing&#8217;s technology sector. Growing up in a small community, he learned English through grammar, reading and writing. Speaking and listening were weaknesses he believed prevented him from studying or working abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I never thought I could go abroad because of my English,&#8221; Hu explains.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"not-prose cu-quote cu-component-spacing\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>&#8220;After I graduated university, I tried to learn English but failed. During COVID, I told myself, &#8216;Joe, you need to learn English.'&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>After nine months of preparation, Hu earned the IELTS score needed to apply to Carleton, but he still lacked confidence in his speaking ability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-2-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Person overlooking Gatineau Park during fall colours.\" class=\"wp-image-102068\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-2-512x341.jpg 512w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-2-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-2-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-2.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hu enjoys the view in Gatineau Park<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"finding-confidence-through-carletons-tim-program\" class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Finding Confidence Through Carleton&#8217;s TIM Program<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Carleton&#8217;s TIM program offered the combination of technology, business and entrepreneurship Hu wanted. It gave him confidence to utilize AI as a tool to support his learning and research process while leaving room to experiment.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"not-prose cu-quote cu-component-spacing\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>&#8220;Once I joined the TIM program, I realized the strength of its community,&#8221; says Hu.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not only about what you can accomplish on your own; it&#8217;s about the community helping you.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The late <a href=\"https:\/\/sprott.carleton.ca\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sprott School of Business<\/a> professor and TIM director, <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/story\/tony-bailetti-mr-entrepreneurship\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tony Bailetti<\/a>, recognized Hu&#8217;s expertise and encouraged him to lead workshops introducing students to emerging AI tools. Bailetti&#8217;s encouragement increased his confidence and changed what he believed he could build.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although Hu practiced English with classmates and at networking events, his IELTS score barely changed. Existing tools didn&#8217;t offer the natural conversation, repetition or detailed feedback he wanted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, he decided to build his own.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"not-prose cu-quote cu-component-spacing\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>&#8220;I wanted to build a product that matched my niche,&#8221; says Hu.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Even though I didn&#8217;t know how to code, I could use coding agents. When I didn&#8217;t know how to do something, I asked AI to help me do it.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The process wasn&#8217;t simply &#8220;vibe coding,&#8221; a term describing software generated through conversational prompts without close oversight of the output.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hu&#8217;s approach was closer to &#8220;vibe engineering,&#8221; using AI as a collaborator while applying human judgment to define the problem, decide which features mattered, evaluate the output and repeatedly refine the product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>AI could generate code, but Hu had to determine whether the product solved his problem, ultimately shaping Joe Speaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-7-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A man delivers a speech next to a podium, with a large screen next to him.\" class=\"wp-image-102070\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-7-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-7-512x341.jpg 512w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-7-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-7-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-7-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-7-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-7.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hu presents Joe Speaking at Shopify Builder Sundays during Toronto Tech Week, May 2026<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"building-joe-speaking-through-vibe-engineering\" class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Building Joe Speaking Through Vibe Engineering<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>His first IELTS speaking simulator reached 100,000 conversations, showing market demand for a more complete product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The turning point came through his TIM project, choosing to further develop his prototype into a standalone platform backed by peer-reviewed research on language learning and assessment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I thought I could turn my prototype into a real product,&#8221; he says.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"not-prose cu-quote cu-component-spacing\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>&#8220;At first, I was only trying to complete my project. The more I built, the more invested I became and realized, &#8216;I can do this. I can turn this into something people will use.'&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-8-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A large group of people pose for a photo with four Canadian flags visible behind them.\" class=\"wp-image-102071\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-8-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-8-512x341.jpg 512w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-8-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-8-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-8-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-8-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-8.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hu with other members of the TIM community, Fall 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>He researched the idea last summer, completed a literature review in the fall and started building in November 2025. Using AI coding agents, he developed the application, tested its features and spent two months stabilizing its real-time conversation system.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"not-prose cu-quote cu-component-spacing\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>&#8220;The core feature of Joe Speaking is that you can talk with an AI examiner naturally and repeat the same topic,&#8221; Hu explains.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>&#8220;What I genuinely wanted to build is a fully personalized tutor that understands the user&#8217;s level and gives specific feedback.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even before the platform had a landing page, it attracted paid users from Japan and Australia. His professors supported his work, connecting him with industry opportunities and helping secure funding to develop Joe Speaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-3-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A man with glasses, wearing a black shirt, points at the laptop sitting on front of him.\" class=\"wp-image-102072\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-3-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-3-512x341.jpg 512w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-3-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-3-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-3-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-3.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hu shows off a prototype of the Joe Speaking app<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As validation of his work, Hu was selected to attend Y Combinator&#8217;s Startup School in San Francisco in July.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While the users, paying customers and industry interest validated the idea, Hu says the most valuable outcomes have been the experience, confidence and opportunities gained by identifying a personal problem and taking action to solve it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hu believes AI&#8217;s value doesn&#8217;t come from generating something blindly. It comes from combining technology with curiosity, subject knowledge and the judgment required to build something meaningful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He hopes his experience encourages other students to take initiative, pursue ambitious ideas and experiment.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"not-prose cu-quote cu-component-spacing\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>&#8220;My advice to students is not about AI or a tool,&#8221; he says.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s about your motivation, your interest and your agency \u2014 if you want to do something, you can just do it.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-5-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A very large group of people pose for a picture while seated in a classroom.\" class=\"wp-image-102108\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-5-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-5-512x341.jpg 512w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-5-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-5-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-5-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-5-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2026\/08\/ai-experiment-grad-1200x800-5.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Attendees of the first workshop hosted by Hu<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>_<br><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/latest-news\/\">More Stories<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When Joe (Beiqiao) Hu arrived at Carleton University in 2024, he wasn&#8217;t just pursuing a graduate degree, he had three goals in mind: improve his English, establish himself in Canada and build something meaningful. Less than two years later, the Technology Innovation Management (TIM) graduate launched Joe Speaking, an AI-powered language-learning platform offering real-time conversation [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52,"featured_media":102072,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"cu_story_type":[17,1931,19],"cu_story_tag":[1922],"class_list":["post-102063","cu_story","type-cu_story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","cu_story_type-alumni","cu_story_type-social-innovation","cu_story_type-technology-innovation","cu_story_tag-sprott-school-of-business"],"acf":{"cu_post_thumbnail":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story\/102063","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/cu_story"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/52"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story\/102063\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":102111,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story\/102063\/revisions\/102111"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/102072"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=102063"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"cu_story_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story_type?post=102063"},{"taxonomy":"cu_story_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story_tag?post=102063"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}