You Need to Meet Aahana Patel, A 15-Year-Old Innovator Redefining the Future of AI, AR, and VR

At 15-years-old, Aahana Patel is already making waves in the fields of artificial intelligence, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR). With a deep curiosity about the intersection of human connection and technology, Aahana is exploring advanced 3D rendering techniques, neural radiance fields (NeRF), and Gaussian splatting — cutting-edge technologies that are shaping the next frontier of immersive experiences. A passionate innovator, hackathon competitor, and future-forward thinker, Aahana is driven by a vision to build a digital utopia where people can connect with their loved ones in ways never before imagined.

What initially sparked your interest in the fields of artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality?

Being from an immigrant background, I missed the human-to-human connection I occasionally get to experience with my extended family back home, whom I see maybe once every year or two. My parents would occasionally joke about holograms and how cool it would be to be together in person, digitally.

That’s when I discovered Ready Player One. The idea of “The OASIS” captivated me and made me wonder how it could be possible to build. That curiosity led me down the rabbit hole of VR/AR and eventually landed me on technologies like Gaussian splatting and Neural Radiance Fields (NeRF), which now feel like the building blocks for making that once-fictional world a reality.

How do you see the world’s rapidly changing technologies shifting the way we interact with the world in the next few years?

In a recent keynote, Jensen Huang talked about the roadmap of AI in the coming years — moving from perception AI to generative AI, then agentic AI, and eventually Physical AI. The way we interact with computers will be completely dismantled.

AI is integrating into almost everything we do, and for VR/AR, this means generative development of NPCs, environments, storylines, and even game endings. Imagine AI being baked directly into gaming hardware — controllers that provide real-time assistance or AI-recognized, brain-controlled, fine-tuned movement — while playing a game uniquely tailored to you. The buzzword we’re all tired of hearing, AI, won’t just become the norm; it will redefine how we interact with the world itself.

What has been the most rewarding experience you’ve had from major hackathons and events like Hack the North?

The most rewarding experience I’ve had from hackathons is definitely the network. At any hackathon, you get to pitch your ideas to judges, but each event offers a unique opportunity to connect with industry professionals.

At Hack The North specifically, I built relationships with professionals in the Sponsor Bay who shared valuable insights on the skills in demand and the latest tech trends. It’s not just about coding and building projects — it’s about learning from experts and receiving feedback that pushes you to think in new ways.

You’ve mentioned your goal of creating a “digital utopia” for people to connect with loved ones. What would that look like in an ideal world?

As I mentioned earlier, I want to create my own version of The OASIS — a world where people can connect with distant loved ones in ways like never before. Video calls and chats are one thing, but I believe augmented reality has a much greater potential.

In an ideal world, we wouldn’t just interact with friends and family — we’d also be able to connect with those who are no longer with us. A few years ago, I lost my grandfather to COVID-19, and I saw the impact it had on my family. Being able to bridge that gap and create a space where people can reconnect, even in some small way, is something deeply meaningful to me. It’s the ultimate goal of my digital utopia.

As a 15-year-old innovator, what advice would you give to other young people who are interested in exploring tech, innovation, or the intersection of art and technology?

Breaking into tech today is harder than ever before, but it’s also more exciting. Everything around us is built with technology, and being in this space is incredibly rewarding.

My advice? Start exploring early — whether it’s coding, robotics, or blending art with technology. Don’t be afraid to experiment and fail. That’s where real growth happens. Surround yourself with like-minded people by joining hackathons, school clubs, or extracurricular programs. Some of the best innovators — Nikola Tesla, Steve Jobs, Leonardo da Vinci — all started by pursuing an idea they were passionate about.

Be fearless. Be curious. Be open-minded. The future belongs to those who dare to imagine it — and build it.

What kind of projects or ideas excite you the most? What would be your dream project or collaboration in your field?

I’ve always been fascinated by projects that add realism to the digital world, things like haptics, brain-computer interface (BCI)-enabled movement, and 3D generative content.

My dream project would be developing an open-source SDK that allows users to build their vision of the future OASIS, so when the hardware catches up, the software is already there. A dream collaboration? Working with Luma. I’d love to push the frontier of 3D diffusion and explore what’s possible when generative models meet deeply immersive interfaces.

What do you love most about what you do and why?

I love working with AR and VR because of the advanced 3D rendering techniques behind immersive experiences. Lately, I’ve been experimenting with NeRFs and Gaussian splatting, both of which allow for smooth, dynamic 3D representations of 2D objects.

NeRFs capture lighting with incredible precision, making environments feel lifelike, while Gaussian splatting achieves similar results without using a neural network. These technologies have the potential to completely transform how we experience AR and VR — and I’m excited to be part of that shift.

What advice would you offer to aspiring young women in tech?

It’s never too early to start exploring. You don’t have to be an expert, you just need to be curious.

Even if you’re not the leading scientist on a topic, starting young allows you to discover your interests and find ways to apply them in ways others haven’t yet. Steve Jobs co-founded Apple’s first computer at 21, but he was already deeply immersed in innovation long before that. Early exploration builds the foundation for disruption in any field.

What about you surprises people?

People are often surprised by my willingness to put myself out there — to take on challenges head-on, even at my age.

The work I’m doing with NeRFs and Gaussian splatting is something even industry professionals are still wrapping their heads around. Exploring it at 15 shocks a lot of people. Another thing that surprises people is my ability to step onto a stage, even when I know others in the audience are more experienced than me. It’s scary, but true growth comes from facing your fears, and that’s something I constantly push myself to embrace.

If you had an extra hour in your day, how would you spend it?

I’d use it to prototype, tweak generative models, and deepen my understanding of the theoretical aspects behind these technologies. Since I’m still young, building a strong foundation of knowledge is crucial.

I’d also reach out to universities and research institutes to work as an apprentice under great minds who are tackling these challenges right now.

What excites you about the future?

What excites me most is the inevitable singularity, the moment when the virtual world becomes indistinguishable from the real.

That might sound dystopian, but it could revolutionize everything. We could train skilled workers in risk-free environments, simulate laws in virtual societies before real-world implementation, or even step into our favorite fantasy universes.

It’s not about recreating reality, it’s about extending it. And that’s the future I want to help build.