Teen innovator develops AI app that detects heart disease in seconds

Siddarth’s contributions have earned him national and international acclaim, including letters of appreciation from former US Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, along with admiration from Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan

Fourteen-year-old Indian-American prodigy Siddarth Nandyala is making waves in both the tech and healthcare worlds with an AI-powered application designed to detect heart disease within seconds—a feat that’s earning him accolades and admiration across continents.

Born in Hyderabad and now based in the United States, Siddarth embodies a rare blend of curiosity, compassion, and technical brilliance. His AI app, Circadian AI, uses machine learning to analyze heart sounds through a smartphone and deliver instant cardiac health assessments. The tool has already been tested in hospitals across Andhra Pradesh, India, where it successfully flagged potential heart conditions in individuals who otherwise showed no symptoms.

“You just place the phone on a specific point on the chest, record the sound, and click analyze,” Siddarth explained. “Within seconds, you get a report that can alert medical professionals to potential cardiovascular risks.”

Pilot studies conducted at government hospitals in Guntur and Vijayawada saw over 2,300 patients screened using Circadian AI. Dozens of potential cardiovascular disease (CVD) cases were identified and later confirmed through traditional methods like ECG and echocardiography. The accuracy and speed of the tool, especially in low-resource settings, have impressed medical practitioners and policymakers alike.

Tech passion that saves lives

The inspiration behind Circadian AI came when Siddarth witnessed its early trials in underserved communities. “Seeing someone’s life trajectory change in a matter of seconds made me realize this isn’t just software—we’re building second chances,” he said.

But Siddarth’s passion for technology began long before this. At the age of seven, he received his first STEM kit, which sparked a lifelong fascination with building and innovation. By the time he was a teenager, he had already founded STEM IT, an educational platform offering hands-on science and technology experiences to students frustrated by textbook-only learning.

“Most educational tools focus on theory, but I wanted to give kids real-world applications—to see how systems work and let them create,” he said.

His efforts have been recognized at the highest levels. Siddarth has received letters of appreciation from (former) US Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, and his recent work earned personal praises from Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan.

Ethics at the core of innovation

Despite the praise, Siddarth remains grounded and thoughtful—especially when it comes to the ethical implications of using AI in healthcare. “The model is only as good as the data it’s trained on,” he said. “We need transparency, inclusivity, and explainability in every AI decision, especially when people’s lives are involved.”

Currently, Circadian AI is intended only for clinical use and is not available to the public. Siddarth and his team are working on expanding the tool’s capabilities to include respiratory analysis, aiming to create a comprehensive diagnostic assistant for frontline healthcare workers.

Outside the lab, Siddarth enjoys playing golf and chess—activities that help him relax and improve his strategic thinking. He draws inspiration from the late Indian President and renowned scientist Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, believing that innovation, when paired with empathy, has the power to reshape the future.

“Innovation is about starting,” he said. “You don’t need a big lab or a fancy title—just an idea and the will to make it real.”