An Apple scholar is bringing AI into the deeply personal space of meditation and mindfulness, reflecting his true passion for mental health and wellbeing.
In the fast-paced world of app development, where innovation is the currency of success, Prithiv Dev Devendran is quietly setting trends. This two-time recipient of Apple’s WWDC Student Scholarship doesn’t just create apps, he’s also pioneering new ways to use technology to improve our daily lives and well-being — all while keeping his creations free, accessible, and secure.
Prithiv Dev’s journey in technology has led him to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and human experiences. His projects, while diverse, share a common thread: using AI to bridge the gap between digital interactions and real-world outcomes, with a special 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 make a real difference in people’s lives, while respecting their privacy.”
Prithiv Dev, an Apple Scholar developer, innovates an AI-powered dating app that prioritizes privacy for seamless real-life encounters
This philosophy is evident in IRL AI, Prithiv Dev’s innovative free dating app. At first glance, it might seem like a simple matchmaking service, but a closer look reveals a sophisticated system that is redefining the way we approach online connections, with privacy at its core.
“The idea of AI in real life came from conversations with friends,” Prithiv Dev recalls. “They were getting a lot of matches on other apps, but they rarely met in person. I saw an opportunity to use AI to bridge that gap, but I knew privacy had to be a top priority.”
What sets IRL AI apart is the use of specialized AI agents, not only for matchmaking but also for ensuring user safety and privacy. Prithiv Dev has integrated advanced AI-powered processes for user verification, content monitoring, and behavioral analysis. These AI agents work tirelessly to create a safe environment, automatically flagging potential issues while maintaining user privacy.
“It’s all about creating a trusted user experience,” says Prithiv Dev. “AI not only matches people, but also acts as a gatekeeper, ensuring interactions are safe and respectful.”
This approach demonstrates a nuanced understanding of AI’s capabilities and the critical importance of privacy in digital spaces. By leveraging AI for both functionality and security, IRL AI shows how technology can enhance social connections while prioritizing user safety.
enlighten you: AI-powered wellness revolution
But Prithiv Dev’s ambitions extend beyond the realm of social connections. His latest project, illuminationOS, a free meditation app for Apple Vision Pro, brings AI into the deeply personal space 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,” shares Prithiv Dev. “That experience showed me the profound impact mindfulness can have on a person’s life. With illuminationOS, I aim to make those benefits more accessible through AI, while ensuring maximum privacy for users’ personal experiences.”
IluminOS is not your typical meditation app. It leverages artificial intelligence in an innovative and deeply practical way, with privacy protections built into its core. The app generates unique meditation scripts on the fly, tailored to the user’s current state and preferences, without storing personal data. The app also offers immersive virtual environments in which the user can meditate.
“Privacy is paramount when it comes to mental health apps,” 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 personalization, but also in protecting user privacy. By combining natural language processing, machine learning, and advanced privacy techniques, illuminationOS points to a future where technology can provide deeply personalized support for mental wellness without compromising personal information.
Prithiv Dev’s work on both social connection and personal wellbeing highlights a growing trend in app development: the use of AI not just as a back-end tool, but as a means to create more human-centric digital experiences that respect user privacy.
“For me, these apps are experiments in what’s possible with AI in consumer apps,” reflects Prithiv Dev. “But they’re also steps towards my ultimate goal: leveraging AI to make a real impact on mental health, all while maintaining the highest standards of privacy and data protection.”
As AI continues to evolve, projects like IRL AI and illuminationOS serve as important case studies for how this technology can be applied thoughtfully, effectively, and ethically. They demonstrate that with the right approach, AI can do more than process data—it can help foster meaningful connections and personal growth, while protecting user privacy.
While these free, experimental apps are already pushing the boundaries, Prithiv Dev hints that even more ambitious projects are on the horizon. “Real-life AI and the IlightOS operating system are just the beginning,” he says. “I am exploring ways to use AI for even more innovative mental health applications, always with privacy as a central tenet. Imagine AI that can create personalized cognitive behavioral therapy exercises or systems that can detect early signs of mental health issues and provide proactive support, all while keeping user data completely secure and private.”
Looking ahead, it’s clear that developers like Prithiv Dev are at the forefront of a new wave of AI-powered wellness technology. Their commitment to keeping these powerful tools free, accessible, and privacy-focused, combined with their emphasis on mental health, suggests a future where advanced AI support for wellness could be accessible to everyone, 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 a space to watch, and Prithiv Dev is leading the way with creativity, technical prowess, and a genuine desire to improve lives while protecting user privacy.
