Marietta High School Student Designs AI Software to Streamline Employee Scheduling

After a sports injury, Noah Marbach turned to artificial intelligence to solve a common workplace headache.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 3:05am

A 17-year-old high school senior in Marietta, Georgia has developed an AI-powered employee scheduling software called X Shift AI. Noah Marbach, a student at Pope High School, was forced to give up competitive soccer due to recurring ankle injuries, so he decided to use his free time to tackle the problem of manual employee scheduling that he had experienced working shift-based jobs. Marbach's teacher says the teen is adept at using AI and finding digital shortcuts, which has served him well in building his startup.

Why it matters

Marbach's story highlights how young innovators are leveraging emerging technologies like AI to solve real-world problems. His software aims to streamline a time-consuming task for businesses, potentially improving workplace efficiency and employee satisfaction. As more Gen Z entrepreneurs enter the workforce, their tech-savvy mindset could drive further innovation in areas like workforce management.

The details

After being sidelined from competitive soccer due to recurring ankle injuries, 17-year-old Noah Marbach decided to channel his energy into building an AI-powered employee scheduling software called X Shift AI. Marbach, a senior at Pope High School in Marietta, Georgia, says he was inspired to create the tool after seeing managers spend hours each week manually building employee schedules. His teacher, Jeffrey Wheeler, notes that Marbach has a knack for using AI and digital shortcuts to get work done, which has served him well in developing his startup. Outside of school, Marbach is actively pitching X Shift AI to potential clients and partners, with the goal of making it the most widely used employee scheduling app.

  • Marbach started developing X Shift AI after being forced to give up competitive soccer due to recurring ankle injuries.
  • Marbach is currently a senior at Pope High School in Marietta, Georgia.

The players

Noah Marbach

A 17-year-old high school senior at Pope High School in Marietta, Georgia who has developed an AI-powered employee scheduling software called X Shift AI.

Jeffrey Wheeler

A teacher at Pope High School who says Marbach is adept at using AI and digital shortcuts, which has served him well in building his startup.

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What they’re saying

“I've definitely used AI to do my school work. I probably used AI more than myself to do school work.”

— Noah Marbach, High School Student

“Noah's confidence and his ability to navigate adult conversations well has set him up effectively for the pathway he's on with his software.”

— Jeffrey Wheeler, Teacher

What’s next

Marbach plans to attend the University of Mississippi after graduation and major in entrepreneurship while continuing to grow his X Shift AI business.

The takeaway

Marbach's story demonstrates how young, tech-savvy entrepreneurs are leveraging emerging technologies like AI to solve real-world problems. His employee scheduling software aims to streamline a time-consuming task for businesses, showcasing the innovative potential of the next generation of innovators.