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Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw praises teen who built Iron Man-inspired 'Jarvis' to control his room without internet

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw praised a young innovator who built an offline, voice-controlled smart-home assistant inspired by Iron Man.

Published on: Nov 13, 2026, 19:17:55 IST
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A young tech enthusiast has impressed Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw after building his own version of 'Jarvis', the fictional artificial intelligence assistant from the Iron Man films. Ridit Kumawat's homemade device allows him to control his room's lights and fan using voice commands, without requiring an internet connection.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw applauded Ridit Kumawat's homemade Jarvis device that controlled lights and fans without internet access. (Instagram/the_coder_16)
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw applauded Ridit Kumawat's homemade Jarvis device that controlled lights and fans without internet access. (Instagram/the_coder_16)

Kumawat demonstrated his invention in an Instagram video that has since gone viral, attracting over 30 million views and thousands of comments.

(Also read: Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw says Microsoft outage creates an ‘unexpected opportunity’ for Sridhar Vembu's Zoho)

How does the homemade Jarvis work?

In the video, Kumawat shows a compact device installed near his room's switchboard. He explains how the system responds to spoken instructions, switching lights and fans on or off without requiring him to operate the switches manually.

"I think this is one of the craziest things I have ever built because this tiny device can control my whole room," said Kumawat.

He then demonstrates several commands, including "All lights off", "Fan on", "Good night" and "Study mode on", with the device responding to each instruction.

The system also features preset settings that allow him to change the room's lighting and other connected appliances through a single command.

"The craziest part this works completely offline unlike other devices like Google Home and Alexa. So, privacy on top. I mean isn't this better than that? I know it is," he added.

Unlike smart assistants that rely on cloud-based services for many functions, Kumawat says his system processes the demonstrated commands offline, offering an alternative for users concerned about internet connectivity and privacy.

Watch the clip here:

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw praises young innovator

The invention also caught Mazumdar-Shaw's attention, who praised Kumawat in an X post on November 12, highlighting its potential to help elderly people and those with disabilities.

"Wonderful to see young minds turning curiosity into practical innovation!" wrote Kiran, adding: "This offline voice-controlled system for lights and fans has real-world potential, particularly in making homes more accessible for the elderly and people with disabilities. A great example of how simple, ingenious ideas can address everyday challenges."

Take a look here at the post:

(Also read: Billionaire founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw shares her diet and fitness secrets in exclusive interview: 'No fried food')

Kumawat has previously worked on other technology projects, including a DIY drone and an AI-based study assistant.

  • Mahipal Singh Chouhan
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Mahipal Singh Chouhan

    Mahipal Singh Chouhan is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times Digital, with nearly five years of experience in digital journalism and content production. He primarily covers offbeat, trending and human-interest stories, with a focus on emerging social media trends, online conversations and real-world incidents that capture public attention. At Hindustan Times, Mahipal works on identifying and developing fast-moving digital stories, adding context and journalistic perspective to viral moments while maintaining accuracy, clarity and readability for online audiences. Before joining Hindustan Times Digital, he was associated with DNA India, where he gained experience in newsroom workflows and digital storytelling. He holds a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies, Delhi. Beyond journalism, he has a keen interest in history and sports and enjoys expanding his general knowledge.Read More

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