Wisconsin Students Launch Study Habit App Janus

The platform encourages academic focus by allowing peers to monitor study progress and artificial intelligence usage.

Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Language Learning

Bold vector editorial illustration of a closed smartphone resting beside an open notebook and textbooks on a study desk, signifying academic focus. — University of Wisconsin students Ari Collins and Steve Lin launched the Janus app to track academic study habits and artificial intelligence usage. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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University of Wisconsin seniors Ari Collins and Steve Lin have launched Janus, a new mobile app designed to help students track study sessions and maintain academic motivation. The app allows users to view their peers' study habits and logs their usage of artificial intelligence in coursework.

Why it matters

The creators developed the app to address the growing accessibility of artificial intelligence in academic settings. By fostering social accountability, the platform aims to provide students with a structured way to refocus on their coursework.

The app tracks study session duration and includes a specific feature to monitor the usage of artificial intelligence in schoolwork. Users receive real-time notifications when their activity suggests they have become distracted.

The players

Ari Collins

He is a senior at the University of Wisconsin and one of the co-creators of the study habit app Janus.

Steve Lin

He is a senior at the University of Wisconsin and co-creator of the Janus app.

The details

Janus allows students to create posts documenting their study progress and their integration of AI tools. By tracking study habits through social interaction, the app aims to build a sense of community among students at the University of Wisconsin.

Spring 2026: Collins and Lin first discussed the concept for the app.
October 16, 2026: The article describing the app launch was published.

Culture Shift

The Janus app follows a trend set by the rise of artificial intelligence in academic coursework. It seeks to regulate this digital behavior by providing transparency and community-based accountability for student AI use.

University of Wisconsin students can now use the app to log their daily study sessions and monitor their progress alongside peers. The feature tracking AI usage provides a practical way for students to maintain academic integrity while managing their digital distractions.

The takeaway

Students looking to boost productivity may benefit from tools that provide social accountability for their study habits. Incorporating peer-based tracking can help turn individual academic efforts into a more collaborative and motivated routine.