Inside the AI Design Sprint at Nobel Algarve

At Nobel Algarve British International School, a recent AI Design Sprint brought students together for two days of creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving.

Students worked in small groups, shared ideas, and developed practical applications of artificial intelligence to help with real-world problems.

The event highlighted how young people are already thinking seriously about the role of AI in everyday life — and how they can shape it for the better.

One of the standout projects to emerge from the sprint was “AI Eat,” created by Duarte Lourenço. The idea focuses on helping families plan affordable, healthy meals and shows how simple concepts can have a real impact. We had the chance to speak with Duarte about his project and his future plans.

1. First of all, congratulations on winning the AI Design Sprint. How did it feel when your project “Ai Eat” was announced as the winner?

Thank you. To be honest, I didn't expect to win at all, so it was a big surprise. There were many great projects in the competition. When they announced 'Ai Eat' as the winner, it felt good to see that our team's work was valued. We are very happy with the result.

2. What inspired you to create an AI tool focused on meal planning and budgeting?

The inspiration came from a very common problem: many people want to eat healthily but find it hard to manage their budget and time. We realised that AI could make this much easier by quickly creating personalised plans that save money and reduce food waste. We just wanted to build something practical that solves a real, everyday struggle.

3. How does “Ai Eat” work in practice? What would the user experience look like for families using the tool?

In practice, it’s very simple. The user just enters their budget, dietary needs, and what they already have in the fridge. Then, the AI generates a weekly meal plan and a smart shopping list. For families, the experience is about saving time: they get recipes that everyone likes, adjusted for allergies or food preferences, without spending more than they planned.

4. What did you learn from participating in the AI Design Sprint?

The experience taught me a lot about using AI to solve real problems. I learned how to turn a complex idea into a simple tool that actually helps people. It was also great to see how much a team can achieve in a short time when we focus on a clear goal, such as healthy eating and budgeting.

5. How do you imagine “Ai Eat” could develop in the future? Do you see it becoming a real app or platform one day?

There is still a lot to think about, and we have some doubts about the best way to scale it. However, we see potential for 'Ai Eat' to become a real platform. We would love to add features like supermarket integration, but for now, our focus is just on making healthy eating simpler for families. It’s a step-by-step process.