RIA – REVA Intelligent Assistant: Ushering in a New Era of Applied AI Innovation in 2026
Introduction: Beginning 2026 with Purpose and Innovation
As we step into 2026, the focus at RACE, REVA University is clear—build boldly, innovate responsibly, and learn with purpose. The year began with a milestone that reflects this commitment: the unveiling of RIA (REVA Intelligent Assistant), an AI-powered humanoid developed at the REVA Academy for Corporate Excellence (RACE).
More than a technological launch, RIA marks a shift toward applied innovation, where advanced research is transformed into deployable, real-world systems that enhance human experiences.
What Is RIA – REVA Intelligent Assistant?
RIA is an AI-powered humanoid assistant designed to enhance the campus experience through natural, intuitive interaction. Built by a multidisciplinary team of researchers, engineers, and industry experts, RIA integrates multiple advanced technologies, including:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Natural Language Processing (NLP)
- Robotics and movement planning
- Speech interfaces (Speech-to-Text and Text-to-Speech)
- Facial recognition
- Computer vision and perception modules
Together, these capabilities enable RIA to interact with users in real time—greeting visitors, responding to campus-related queries, and supporting seamless human–machine collaboration.
Applied Innovation at the Core of RACE
RIA represents RACE’s philosophy of learning by building.
Unlike experimental prototypes, RIA was developed as a deployable system—designed, tested, refined, and scaled through hands-on engineering and real-world constraints. The development journey brought together expertise across:
- NLP engineering and conversational intelligence
- Microcontroller and hardware integrations
- Perception and vision systems
- Persona modeling for human-like interaction
- End-to-end system architecture and design
This approach ensures that participants and researchers gain not just theoretical knowledge, but practical, industry-ready skills aligned with evolving enterprise needs.
A Founder’s Day Tribute to Visionary Leadership
RIA was unveiled on Founder’s Day as a tribute to Dr. P Shyama Raju, Chancellor, REVA University. The launch honours his unwavering belief in innovation-driven education and his support for building a university focused on future technologies.
RIA stands as a reflection of that vision—where education goes beyond classrooms and evolves into creation, experimentation, and deployment.
The Multidisciplinary Team Behind RIA
Innovation thrives at the intersection of diverse skills and perspectives. RIA was developed by a dedicated team of Robotics specialists, AI engineers, and Data engineers, working collaboratively across architecture, intelligence, interaction, and deployment.
Key contributors and roles include:
- Chief Architect — System architecture & AI research direction — Dr. J. B. Simha, Chief Mentor, AI, RACE, REVA University
- Project Lead — Conceptualization, Stakeholder Alignment, Innovation, deployment & institutional alignment — Dr. Shinu Abhi, Director, Corporate Training, RACE, REVA University
- Lead Technologist — Integration of AI modules & perception systems — Ayeed Shaikh, Currently pursuing MTech, AI, RACE, REVA University
- Vision & Dialogue Systems — Vision, STT/TTS & conversational stack — Ahmed Shaik / Srinivas along with 5+ B.Tech students
- Interaction & Web Application — Human–robot UX & knowledge modeling — Priya Jain
- Infrastructure & Deployment — Robotics, GPU, compute & testing — Sandeep Bajaj and B. Jordan
Robotics & Control Systems Engineer(s)
Handled motor control, microcontrollers, movement planning, and hardware–software integration – Sirena Technologies, Led by Hariharan Bhojan, Akanksha
Demonstrating Real-World Impact: RIA in Action
During the press meet, RIA interacted with guests, greeted attendees, and answered campus-related queries in real time. These live interactions showcased the practical potential of intelligent humanoids in enhancing user engagement, accessibility, and operational efficiency.
Watch highlights from the press meet:
Strengthening REVA’s Future Technology Vision
RIA reinforces REVA University’s ambition to serve as a testbed for future technologies, including:
- Intelligent humanoids
- Multilingual learning platforms
- Autonomous and assistive systems
- Enterprise-focused AI solutions
- Community-centric technology initiatives
By connecting research, industry mentorship, and real-world deployment, REVA continues to build an ecosystem where innovation is both meaningful and scalable.
Looking Ahead: RIA Is Only the Beginning
As 2026 unfolds, REVA and RACE look forward to deeper industry collaborations, more ambitious innovation programs, and stronger research-to-deployment outcomes.
RIA is not the destination—it is the starting point of a larger journey toward building technologies that work alongside humans, support communities, and prepare professionals for the future of work.
The future of human-centered AI innovation starts here.
