iCurious AI

The Cure for iPad Kids!

[Dr. Rajan Kumar @iCuriousRajan]

Excited to announce that we've been selected for the MeitY TIDE 2.0 Program by @derbifoundati0n! 🎉

Grateful for this support as we work on @iCuriousAI. Looking forward to making the most of this opportunity.

Onward! 🚀

@meitystartuphub @meet_shoryak @PiyushKThisSide
#MeitYTIDE #startupindia

[iCurious AI @iCuriousAI]

Come join us on the mission!

[Dr. Rajan Kumar @iCuriousRajan]

we're hiring our first founder's office intern at @iCuriousAI

the vibe: 0→1 chaos, lots of writing, some strategy, maybe some memes

what we're building: AI companion that tells personalised stories, listens without judgment, and builds emotional intelligence through conversation. screen-free. voice-based. always available.

what you'll do: content, marketing, GTM, whatever needs doing. you're the generalist who writes really, really well.

what we want: smart, high-integrity, problem-solver who's excited to build something from scratch

the deal: ₹10-20k/month, 3 months, HSR Bangalore (hybrid), extension + PPO possible

founded by IIT Kanpur + AIIMS Delhi alums. ex-Worldquant/Databricks/Amex/Ultrahuman.

interested? DM or email [email protected]

@meet_shoryak @PiyushKThisSide

[Dr. Rajan Kumar @iCuriousRajan]

60-70% of kids have unhealthy screen time habits. We wanted to fix this with a screen-free AI companion.

But before building the tech, we tested the idea with a plush toy and a hidden Bluetooth speaker.

@PiyushKThisSide @meet_shoryak @iCuriousAI

Here is the story of how we are "giving a machine a soul." 🧵👇

[Piyush Kumar @PiyushKThisSide]

You must have heard of the following to a point that it may sound cliché:
(1.0)^365 = 1.0
(1.01)^365 = 37.78

But the same applies to your child's thinking ability. If they keep on getting direct answers from general-purpose AI tools, their thinking abilities will massively go downhill. Instead, if they approach any question systematically and get progressive hints on their way to the answer, that will have a much better impact on their cognitive skills than otherwise.

While adults can recognize and resist this habit, children are just starting to learn, and are far more vulnerable. We all should act before it is too late.

Below is a demo of our early version software. It is currently being tested and improved in early hardware prototypes. Stay tuned for our next demos using our hardware prototypes.

Join our waitlist. Link in comments.

@meet_shoryak @iCuriousRajan @iCuriousAI

[iCurious AI @iCuriousAI]

Join Waitlist: https://t.co/Xdi8tgKftB

[Shorya Kumar @meet_shoryak]

The best way to reduce passive screen time isn't to force it out but to invite curiosity in.

We're thrilled to share what we are building at @iCuriousAI . We are moving away from passive entertainment to active wonder.

We’ve developed an intelligent playmate that brings the wisdom of Socrates into the playroom.

Instead of just spoon-feeding answers like a search engine, this friend asks the right questions back. It gently guides children to think for themselves, challenging them to explore their own ideas.

It’s the friend every curious kid deserves. Which is an experience infinitely more rewarding than a passive screen. It helps kids develop focus and creativity, not by lecturing them, but by playing with them.

Join the waitlist to bring the magic home. Link in comments.

@PiyushKThisSide @iCuriousRajan

Here is a 2-minute glimpse of our vision. 👇

[Piyush Kumar @PiyushKThisSide]

The Real AI Crisis: We're Automating Away How We Learn to Think

A striking revelation from a recent Fortune survey of 1,540 board members and C-suite executives: the skills gap isn't really about AI proficiency, it's about critical thinking.

Read the full article here: https://t.co/oCzgHrhLJR

@meet_shoryak @iCuriousRajan @iCuriousAI

[Dr. Rajan Kumar @iCuriousRajan]

Your child isn’t "bored." Their brain is going through dopamine withdrawal.

Passive screen time is silently destroying attention spans and creating "Virtual Autism."

Here is the science of what’s happening to your kid’s brain—and the solution we’re building to fix it. 🧵

1/ The Dopamine Trap: Think of Dopamine as the brain’s currency for motivation.
• Real Play: You work hard ➡️ You get a dopamine payout.
• Passive Screens: You do nothing ➡️ You get a massive dopamine payout.

The brain is efficient. It eventually stops "working" for the reward. Why climb a tree when you can just swipe a finger?

2/ The "Aarav" Effect: We tracked a case of an 8-year-old active explorer who stopped asking "Why?" after getting a tablet. He could copy a solar system from a video, but couldn't explain how gravity worked. Consumption replaced curiosity. Passive screens train children to accept answers, not ask questions.

3/ Virtual Autism: This is a terrifying new term in child development. Excessive passive screen time in toddlers is leading to symptoms that mimic autism:
• No eye contact
• Delayed speech
• Social withdrawal
These aren't always permanent. They are often reversed when the screens go away.

4/ The Prefrontal Cortex Crisis: The front part of the brain controls impulses. It needs practice to grow. When a screen instantly gratifies every desire (click = reward), this muscle atrophies. Result: Tantrums, inability to wait, and zero emotional regulation.

5/ The Solution: Active, Not Passive. We don't need to ban technology; we need to change how it interacts with us. We are building a Conversational AI Companion. It doesn't just play videos. It asks questions. It listens. It forces the brain to work and imagine.

6/ Reclaim Their Curiosity: We are building the first tool designed to reverse attention fragmentation and spark deep inquiry.

Don't let the algorithm raise your child.

@meet_shoryak @PiyushKThisSide @iCuriousAI

Join our waitlist to get early access:
👉 https://t.co/h4HecBN4W1

[Dr. Rajan Kumar @iCuriousRajan]

What kind of parent are you?

[Piyush Kumar @PiyushKThisSide]

Few days back, I went to the market with my maternal uncle to buy a garland for Diwali.

He said, "Let’s go to a place where more garland shops are present - we’ll get it cheaper."

That one line instantly reminded me of a simple economics concept I had studied years ago - how competition among sellers benefits buyers. A very simple real-life example, yet so powerful.

It also reminded me one powerful quotation by Albert Einstein, "Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school."

Sadly, most of us are taught to chase grades, not curiosity and learning. Learning and it's application in real life should go hand in hand. The moment we stop learning, we stop growing.

That belief is also what drives us at iCurious AI, where we’re building smart AI companions that spark curiosity in children and make learning feel like play. Because curiosity isn’t just a trait - it’s the superpower that keeps education alive.

Keep learning. Keep questioning. Stay curious. 

What’s one concept you learned long ago that recently showed up in real life?

@meet_shoryak @iCuriousRajan @iCuriousAI

#Learning #Curiosity #Education #AI #iCuriousAI #DiwaliThoughts

[Dr. Rajan Kumar @iCuriousRajan]

Reflecting on an incredible "Founders Cubbon Walk" this past weekend with @sajithpai

We didn't just talk about PMF; we went deep into the weeds. We dissected everything from pick and GTM strategies to the nuances of iterating on value propositions and identifying the right ICP.

It was a masterclass in navigating the startup lifecycle, moving beyond the buzzwords to discuss real-world challenges. The conversation touched on every critical lever for building a scalable and defensible business.

As a founder building @iCuriousAI, this level of candid, high-signal discussion is invaluable.

Huge thanks to Sajith Pai for sharing such deep operational wisdom.

@meet_shoryak @PiyushKThisSide

[Dr. Rajan Kumar @iCuriousRajan]

I had a heavy conversation with a childhood friend from Bihar today.

It's polling day in our home district, and I casually asked him who he voted for. His answer shook me.

"I voted for person XYZ," he said. "He's from my caste (जात भाई). Even if he only does things for himself, something will eventually trickle down to us."

He then criticised another person for "wasting" their vote on a candidate everyone "knows" won't win.

Here’s the part that aches my heart: My friend is a graduate, in his mid-20s, and unemployed.

The very system he feels compelled to participate in is failing him. He's trapped in a loop of such low expectations that he's voting for the hope of a scrap, not the demand for development.

This isn't an isolated story. It's a systemic breakdown of incentives. Why would any leader focus on development when the 'ask' isn't for development?

Passive screen time is making things worse. This frustration is exactly why we are building @iCuriousAI.

We can't fix this generation's political patterns overnight. But we have a moral obligation to empower the next generation.

Our mission is to use technology not just as a toy, but as a tool. We're building a voice AI companion that fosters deep, genuine curiosity in children. We are teaching them to relentlessly ask "WHY?"

A child who learns to question the world, who is encouraged to be curious, and who grows up expecting a real answer...
...grows into an adult who demands real accountability.

From their teachers, from their bosses, and one day, from their leaders. That's the future we are building for.

@meet_shoryak @PiyushKThisSide

[Shorya Kumar @meet_shoryak]

𝐇𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐭!
𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝!  🚀

We are an early-stage startup, founded by alumni from AIIMS Delhi and IIT Kanpur, on a mission to reduce screen time and foster genuine curiosity in children. Our core product is a revolutionary voice-AI toy, and we're looking for passionate interns to help us build a brand that parents trust and children love.

This is more than an internship; it's a chance to get on the ground floor, receive direct mentorship from the founders, and potentially join us full-time.

Ready to make a real impact? We're hiring for multiple roles! 👇

1. Content Research Intern (Apply here: https://t.co/P50t8dxua7)

2. Graphic Design Intern (Apply here: https://t.co/5v0NyN4Knv)

3. Social Media Growth Intern (Apply here: https://t.co/SfP0bnnJGw)

4. Tech (AI/ML) Intern (Apply here: https://t.co/7gpCq5kkex)

Ready to build the future of play?

👉 Apply Now!

We are reviewing applications on a rolling basis. Looking forward to hearing from you!

@iCuriousAI @iCuriousRajan @PiyushKThisSide

#internship #hiring #edtech #startup #contentwriting #graphicdesign #instagrammarketing #AIML #AI #ML #python #LLM #bengaluru #remotejobs #AIAgents

[Dr. Rajan Kumar @iCuriousRajan]

𝐌𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞'𝐬 𝟖-𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫-𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤.

When his parents tried to limit his passive scrolling, he hit them with a full-blown research paper.

He quoted WHO and American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines, arguing his screen time was "within acceptable limits."

An 8-year-old.

It’s a startling example of a problem every parent I know is facing.

It starts with a simple thought: “बस थोड़ी देर की ही बात है” (It’s just for a little while).
You hand over the phone for a few minutes of peace.

But "a little while" becomes a habit.
The habit becomes an addiction.
And soon, you’re dealing with tantrums you can’t control.

It’s a cycle. One that's hard enough for us adults to break.

So, are we trading our children's future for a few minutes of quiet?
The doomscrolling that rots our brains is a wildfire in a child's developing mind.

The results are terrifying:
→ Anxiety & depression
→ Plummeting attention spans
→ Delays in development
→ Poor academic performance

We couldn't just watch this happen.

That’s why we’re building @iCuriousAI.

We're reinventing toys, starting with a voice-powered AI companion designed to break the screen time addiction and bring back genuine curiosity.

Our little companion helps children:
- Learn through interactive, imaginative stories.
- Get answers to their endless "why?" questions.
- Make learning an adventure, not a passive chore.

Our vision is to create a world where learning is an act of pure delight, and curiosity is the only interface a child will ever need.

And we're building it all in public.

We'll be sharing our entire journey - the wins, the bugs, the late-night breakthroughs, and the tough lessons.

Follow to watch the story unfold. @meet_shoryak @PiyushKThisSide

And now we want to hear from you: What is your single biggest struggle when it comes to parenting in the digital age?

Let us know in the comments or DM. Your story matters.

[iCurious AI @iCuriousAI]

Go go go!

[Piyush Kumar @PiyushKThisSide]

Free Mentorship Opportunity for Students! Limited slots! 🚀

We (graduates from IIT Kanpur and AIIMS Delhi) are starting a new initiative to support students in their journey of growth.

👉 If you’re a student preparing for competitive exams, exploring career paths, or looking for guidance on learning and personal growth, we’d love to connect with you.

Through this mentorship:
- You’ll get direct guidance from mentors who have been through the same challenges.
- You’ll receive personalized support for your planning, strategy, etc.
- You’ll get an opportunity to be part of a growing student community that values learning and collaboration.

Why are we doing this?
We believe in building genuine relationships with students, understanding their problems deeply, and supporting them as they move forward.

📌 If you’re interested, please fill out this short form. Or if you know someone who would benefit from it, kindly share it with them for good karma. Form link: https://t.co/xIUe8QYqgI

Looking forward to connecting with many of you and learning together! 💡

@iCuriousAI @meet_shoryak @iCuriousRajan @PiyushKThisSide

#Mentorship
#AIIMS
#IIT
#Students
#CareerGuidance
#Learning

[Piyush Kumar @PiyushKThisSide]

Life update:
- Got into CMU MS program in Robotics for Fall'25
- Didn't join CMU, and resigned from my full time job at American Express to build https://t.co/SWhDddzvkL (@iCuriousAI)
- We are building Hyperpersonalised AI tutor for K12
- Join the waitlist: https://t.co/3M2wydysil

Let's make learning personalised and curiosity driven.

Happy Independence Day 🇮🇳

[iCurious AI @iCuriousAI]

Founded by rockstars from @IITKanpur and @aiims_newdelhi ❤️

@meet_shoryak @iCuriousRajan @PiyushKThisSide

[iCurious AI @iCuriousAI]

Discover your unique learning journey with iCurious AI! 🚀
Our AI-powered platform personalizes education & unlocks self-discovery like never before. Join us to learn smarter, grow faster, and find you.

Join waitlist: https://t.co/Xdi8tgJHE3
#EdTech #PersonalizedLearning #AI