Bengaluru: Home to over 418 million students, India still faces challenges in school digital access: only 57% of schools have functional computers, and just 9% of young people own a personal computer, according to the Union ministry of education. To bridge this growing gap, several young innovators showcased creative solutions at the “PadhAI ka Future” event organised by Intel India Thursday that could support the world’s largest education system and also address other real-time issues like environmental pollution.Santhosh Viswanathan, MD of Intel India, stressed the need for the education system to adopt technology and AI. “Our education system was designed during the industrial age, primarily by the British, focusing on textbooks and instruction-based learning. While the edtech sector is booming, the digital divide remains a major challenge,” he said.Inset Box: Notable Innovations 1. AI Chatbot to resolve students’ doubtsAn AI-enabled chatbot — AINA will guide students through lesson plans, clarify doubts, and monitor their academic progress. Developed by edtech firm Infinity Learn, the platform also features an AI Doubt Solver, enabling students to solve numericals by simply uploading a photo of the problem. At a time when most current models could solve JEE-level math problems using standard methods, Infinity Learn claims this model adds a personal touch. “AINA doesn’t just give the solution; it provides hints that guide students to arrive at answers themselves. By analysing past activity, it identifies each student’s strengths and weaknesses, offering personalised attention that popular models cannot,” said Amit Bansal, chief product & technological officer at Infinity Learn.2. AI bot to beat math anxietyUnderstanding the anxiety faced by students, especially while solving math problems, Ei Mindspark provides a platform for students to converse with an AI bot, who will assist them in the same way as a tutor during the entirety of the learning process. 3. Tech to detect microplastics in BloodAmong the standout innovations was “MicroDetect-Net” software developed by 15-year-old Himank Arora, a Class 10 student at DAV Multipurpose Public School, Sonipat, Haryana that helps detect microplastic in human blood. “With 90 per cent accuracy, it automates the analysis of particle size, shape, and count among hundreds of samples,” Arora said.4. AI tool to tackle marine pollutionOceanGuard, an AI tool developed by three BTech students from Pune —— Sophiya Ahmad, Aarja Bhatnagar, and Soham Gujar, enables continuous scalable monitoring and hotspot mapping of microplastic pollution in oceans. “Even if we identify a hotspot, addressing it is a large initiative. We start small and gradually scale up. After sharing reports with NGOs, our next step will be to collaborate directly with citizens to make a tangible impact,” Bhatnagar said.
