← Back to Home

UP student’s AI ‘robot teacher’ Sophie goes viral, sparking fresh debate on classroom innovation

By | Career | 30-Nov-2025 12:36:46


News Story

In a remarkable display of youthful ingenuity, Aditya Kumar, a 17-year-old Class 12 student from Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, has created an AI-powered ‘robot teacher’ named Sophie — a project that has swiftly captured national attention after a classroom demonstration video went viral.

While Sophie is not a robot in the conventional sense, but rather a mannequin integrated with an advanced AI voice assistant, the innovation reveals a powerful surge in student-led experimentation with artificial intelligence and STEM technologies.

In the viral clip, Sophie confidently fields questions from classmates, correctly answering general knowledge queries like India’s first President and Prime Minister, showcasing the potential of AI to transform educational engagement.

Aditya explained that Sophie operates using an “LLM-based chipset,” leveraging cloud-powered large language models to understand and respond in real-time, while servo motors animate her movements. Though the technology relies on internet-connected AI rather than autonomous robotics, experts and educators alike have lauded the project as an inspiring example of how Indian students are harnessing cutting-edge tools despite limited resources.

“This is just the beginning,” Aditya said, envisioning future upgrades where Sophie could write and interact even more dynamically. He also called for greater investment in STEM infrastructure across districts to fuel innovation at the grassroots level.

Sophie’s viral rise follows Kerala’s launch of India’s first generative AI teacher, Iris, signaling a new era where AI-driven teaching assistants could soon become commonplace in classrooms nationwide. As students like Aditya push boundaries with accessible technology, India’s AI education revolution is clearly gaining unstoppable momentum.