WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — First Lady Melania Trump has highlighted the work of an Indian American student from Virginia whose artificial intelligence project aims to help children stay safe online.
In a recent social media post, Trump shared a video featuring Adya, a participant in the inaugural Presidential AI Challenge. The student introduced her project, called NAVI, as a “friendly AI safety buddy” that helps children deal with online bullying and learn responsible digital behavior.
The project gained attention after Trump praised the creativity and innovation shown by young participants in the national competition. She said empowering children to think, explore, and create can inspire positive change in communities across the country.
Adya said she created NAVI after seeing the impact of cyberbullying on a close friend named Anita. According to Adya, Anita faced severe online harassment that affected her mental health and eventually caused her to stop attending school.
As a result, Adya wanted to build a tool that could help children respond to harmful online situations in a safe and constructive way. NAVI uses artificial intelligence to guide users through difficult interactions while teaching important lessons about digital citizenship.
“Navi turns a bullying moment into a digital citizenship lesson,” Adya said in the video shared by Trump.
The AI-powered platform encourages children to make thoughtful choices online. At the same time, it helps them understand respectful communication and responsible internet use. Therefore, the tool serves both as a safety resource and an educational platform.
Adya also emphasized accessibility. She said schools can deploy NAVI free of charge on older computer hardware. Because of that feature, more schools can use the technology without making major investments in new equipment.
“With Navi, we don’t just protect kids; we empower them,” Adya said.
Trump’s post drew attention to the broader goals of the Presidential AI Challenge. The national competition encourages students to use artificial intelligence to solve real-world problems. Participants focus on issues in areas such as healthcare, nutrition, education, and public safety.
The inaugural challenge attracted more than 20,000 students. Participants came from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. In addition, students from 49 Department of Defense Education Activity schools located across 10 countries also took part in the competition.
The event allowed students to showcase innovative ideas and practical applications for emerging technology. Moreover, it encouraged young people to think critically about challenges facing their communities.
On June 9, organizers recognized six national champion teams during the first Presidential Artificial Intelligence Challenge National Champion Awards Ceremony at the White House.
During the ceremony, Melania Trump congratulated the participants for using advanced technology to address everyday problems. She also encouraged students to continue exploring opportunities in artificial intelligence and related fields.
Artificial intelligence continues to play a growing role in education, business, and public services. Consequently, programs such as the Presidential AI Challenge aim to help students develop skills that may prove valuable in the future workforce.
Adya’s project stands out because it focuses on a challenge many young people face today. Cyberbullying remains a major concern for students, parents, and educators. Therefore, tools that promote online safety and digital responsibility have gained increasing attention.
The recognition from the White House has also placed a spotlight on young innovators who use technology to make a difference. Through NAVI, Adya has shown how artificial intelligence can support students and create safer online spaces.
