Forum Copilot

An AI-powered assistant that summarizes forum threads, suggests smart follow-up questions, and helps users engage faster and better.

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Forum Copilot – Project Story

Inspiration

Forums are full of knowledge, but long threads and scattered discussions often make it hard to find answers quickly. I wanted to create a tool that helps users understand discussions instantly and encourages meaningful engagement. Inspired by the idea of an AI “copilot” for conversations, I decided to combine Foru.ms’ headless forum backend with Gemini summarization capabilities.

What it does

Forum Copilot is an AI-powered assistant for forums. Given a thread, it can:

  • Generate a TL;DR summary of long discussions
  • Suggest a smart follow-up question to keep the conversation going
  • Optionally show related threads based on semantic similarity

This transforms long, complex threads into actionable insights for users.

How we built it

  • Frontend: Next.js (App Router), Tailwind CSS, shadcn/ui
  • Backend / API: Next.js route handlers for AI summarization
  • AI Integration: Gemini for summarization and suggested questions
  • Data: Foru.ms API for forum threads (mocked during hackathon for stability)
  • UX: Thread cards, post view, and AI summary component designed for clarity on dark theme

The folder structure was designed for separation of concerns, making the project clean and scalable.

Challenges we ran into

  • Integrating a real-time AI summarization flow without overwhelming users
  • Designing a dark-mode UI that is readable yet visually appealing
  • Limited hackathon time required prioritizing one polished flow over building every feature

Accomplishments that we're proud of

  • A working AI TL;DR and suggested question flow from thread to summary
  • Clean, dark-themed UI suitable for a SaaS-like product
  • Fully mocked, stable demo ready for judges without relying on external APIs

What we learned

  • How to combine headless forum APIs with AI to provide value in real-time
  • Modern Next.js patterns (App Router + Server Components)
  • Designing hackathon-ready UI that communicates functionality instantly
  • Rapid prototyping with mock data for speed and reliability

What's next for Forum Copilot

  • Integrate real-time Foru.ms API access for dynamic threads
  • Add semantic search for related threads
  • Build user personalization for thread suggestions
  • Expand AI features: sentiment detection, highlights, and conversation coaching

Built With

  • foru.msapi
  • gemini
  • next.js
  • tailwindcss
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