An Apple scholar brings AI into the deeply personal realm of meditation and mindfulness, reflecting his true passion for mental health and well-being.
In the busy world of app development, where innovation is the currency of success, Prithiv Dev Devendran is quietly making waves. This two-time Apple WWDC Student Scholarship recipient doesn’t just build apps; he pioneers new technologies that improve our daily lives and well-being, and ensures his creations remain free, accessible, and safe.
Prithiv Dev’s journey into the tech world has led him to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and human experience. While his projects are diverse, they have one thing in common: they use AI to bridge the gap between digital interactions and real-world outcomes, with a particular focus on user privacy.
“I’ve always been fascinated by the potential of AI in everyday applications,” explains Prithiv Dev. “But for me, it’s not just about the technology. It’s about how we can use these tools to really improve people’s lives while respecting their privacy.”
Apple Fellow Prithiv Dev develops AI-powered dating app that prioritizes privacy and enables seamless real-life meetings
This philosophy is evident in IRL AI, Prithiv Dev’s innovative and free dating app. At first glance, it may seem like just another matchmaking service, but a closer look reveals a sophisticated system that is redefining the way we approach online dating, with privacy at its core.
“The idea for IRL AI came to me while talking to friends,” recalls Prithiv Dev. “They were getting lots of matches on other apps but rarely met in person. I saw an opportunity to fill that gap using AI, but knew privacy had to be the top priority.”
What sets IRL AI apart is the use of specialized AI agents, not only for matchmaking but also to ensure user security and privacy. Prithiv Dev has integrated advanced AI-driven processes for user verification, content monitoring, and behavior analysis. These AI agents work tirelessly to create a safe environment, automatically flag potential issues, while maintaining user privacy.
“It’s about creating a trusted user experience,” notes Prithiv Dev. “AI not only brings people together, it also acts as a watchdog, ensuring that interactions remain safe and respectful.”
This approach demonstrates a nuanced understanding of both AI capabilities and the critical importance of privacy in digital spaces. By leveraging AI for both functionality and security, IRL AI demonstrates how technology can enhance social connections while prioritizing user safety.
enlightenOS: AI-driven wellness revolution
But Prithiv Dev’s ambitions extend beyond the realm of social connection. His latest project, enlightenOS, a free meditation app for Apple Vision Pro, brings AI into the deeply personal realm of meditation and mindfulness, reflecting his true passion for mental health and wellbeing.
“My journey with meditation began seven years ago when I tried Vipassana,” says Prithiv Dev. “This experience showed me the profound impact mindfulness can have on life. With enlightenOS, I want to make these benefits more accessible through AI while ensuring the utmost privacy for users’ personal experiences.”
enlightenOS is not your typical meditation app. It uses AI in a way that is both innovative and extremely practical, and offers built-in privacy protections. The app spontaneously generates unique meditation scripts tailored to the user’s current state and preferences without storing any personal data. The app also provides immersive virtual environments in which the user can meditate.
“For mental health applications, privacy is paramount,” explains Prithiv Dev. “enlightenOS processes user input locally whenever possible, and any data that needs to be sent to servers is fully anonymized and encrypted.”
This application of AI in wellness represents a significant advancement, not only in terms of personalization, but also in protecting user privacy. By combining natural language processing, machine learning, and advanced privacy techniques, enlightenOS points to a future where technology can provide deeply personalized support for mental wellness without compromising personal information.
Prithiv Dev’s work in social networking and personal wellbeing highlights a growing trend in app development: using AI not just as a backend tool, but as a means of creating more human-centered digital experiences that respect user privacy.
“For me, these apps are experiments that show what is possible with AI in consumer applications,” says Prithiv Dev. “But they are also steps towards my ultimate goal: to use AI to have a real impact on mental health while maintaining the highest standards of privacy and data protection.”
As AI continues to evolve, projects like IRL AI and enlightenOS serve as important case studies in how this technology can be used thoughtfully, effectively, and ethically. They show that with the right approach, AI can do more than just process data—it can help foster meaningful connections and personal growth while protecting user privacy.
While these free, experimental apps are already pushing boundaries, Prithiv Dev hints that even more ambitious projects are on the horizon. “IRL AI and enlightenOS are just the beginning,” he says. “I’m exploring ways to use AI for even more innovative mental health applications, with privacy always a core principle. Imagine AI that can create personalized exercises for cognitive behavioral therapy, or systems that can detect early signs of mental health issues and provide proactive support, while keeping user data completely secure and private.”
As we look to the future, it’s clear that developers like Prithiv Dev are at the forefront of a new wave of AI-powered wellness technology. His commitment to keeping these powerful tools free, accessible, and privacy-focused, combined with his focus on mental health, suggests a future where advanced AI support for wellness could be within everyone’s reach without compromising personal data. While the full impact of these innovations remains to be seen, one thing is certain: the intersection of AI, mental health, and privacy is an area to keep an eye on, and Prithiv Dev is leading the charge with creativity, technical prowess, and a genuine desire to improve people’s lives while protecting user privacy.
