15 May 2023

Alexa Young Innovator Challenge

Simran Vara (Year 11) is a runner-up in the Alexa Young Innovator Challenge, for which she was selected out of 80,000 applicants.

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Simran Vara (Year 11) is a runner-up in the Alexa Young Innovator Challenge, for which she was selected out of 80,000 applicants.

Simran created an Alexa Skill that aims to tackle stress and anxiety by providing people with a means to talk to someone when they need support. It offers motivational quotes or guided breathing exercises to offer stress reduction to those who need it most. She submitted an essay describing the skill and why it will be beneficial ‘in a world with harmful issues, like social media, affecting young people’s lives’.

The Alexa challenge saw 80,000 applicants design new Alexa Skills themed on STEM education, mental health and entertainment. Skills are like apps for Alexa, allowing you to use voice commands to perform everyday tasks like checking the news, listening to music, or playing a game. 

Simran’s invention is an incredible achievement not only because of the fast-paced advancements in AI but also because it addresses an issue which concerns many young people in secondary schools. Congratulations!

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