14-year-old Andhra-origin tech whiz creates AI app that detects signs of heart failure in 7 seconds, following low-cost prosthetic arm success

Economic Times

17 hours ago

Agencies Fourteen-year-old Siddharth Nandyala, of Andhra origin and based in Texas, has developed Circadian AI, an app that detects early signs of heart failure in just seven seconds.
A 14-year-old prodigy of Andhra origin, Siddharth Nandyala, has developed an extraordinary AI-powered app capable of detecting early signs of heart failure and other heart abnormalities within seven seconds. His breakthrough invention, Circadian AI, uses a smartphone's microphone to record heart sounds, analyze them with cloud-based machine learning, and provide rapid pre-screening for potentially life-threatening conditions.
Hailing from Frisco, Texas, Siddharth combined his passion for healthcare and artificial intelligence to create an app that records heart sounds while filtering out background noise. By simply placing a smartphone near the chest, Circadian AI can identify arrhythmias, irregular heartbeats, coronary artery disease markers, and valve abnormalities. Achieving over 96% accuracy in clinical trials involving nearly 19,000 patients across the US and India, this innovation promises to transform early diagnosis.
Siddharth explained to Smithsonian magazine that his drive came from wanting to make a meaningful impact. 'Even one life detected is one life saved,' he said. Despite the app's sophistication, he emphasized that it is a screening tool designed for clinical use by trained professionals and not a replacement for traditional diagnostics like EKGs.
Earlier this year, Siddharth's groundbreaking work caught the attention of Andhra Pradesh's Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan. Following successful testing of Circadian AI at Guntur Government General Hospital, Siddharth was invited to meet the Chief Minister, who praised his innovation and pledged full government support for further AI research. Naidu highlighted the significance of a young Telugu talent making waves globally in healthcare technology. Accompanied by his father and the state's Health Minister, Siddharth's visit underscored the growing recognition of his potential to contribute both in the US and India.
This isn't Siddharth's first feat. He has previously designed a low-cost prosthetic arm and founded STEM IT, a startup promoting science education. Now a freshman studying computer science at the University of Texas, Siddharth plans to expand Circadian AI's capabilities to detect lung illnesses such as pneumonia and pulmonary embolism through similar sound analysis. Experts like electrophysiologist Dr. Jameel Ahmed recognize the app's promise in reducing heart disease morbidity and mortality by enabling early detection, especially in regions with limited medical access. Cardiovascular diseases remain the world's leading cause of death, making innovations like Siddharth's all the more vital. Siddharth's ambition transcends personal success. 'I want to create a legacy where inventors and innovators push beyond their limits to change the world for the better,' he told Frisco Style . His remarkable journey from an Andhra family settled in Texas to becoming a global healthcare technology pioneer is inspiring a new generation of young inventors worldwide. In just seven seconds, this teenager's app could save countless lives — proving that sometimes, the biggest heart comes in the smallest packages.