For 19-year-old Indian student Bashaar Naik, technology starts with a problem to be solved. Based in Sharjah, the computer engineering student has built projects using artificial intelligence to address challenges ranging from farming and vehicle fuel consumption to online misinformation and deepfakes.
Born in Mumbai in 2007, Naik moved to the UAE when he was just three months old. He grew up in Sharjah, studied at Sharjah Indian School Juwaiza, and later joined the American University of Sharjah to study computer engineering.
His interest in practical technology has been shaped by opportunities to participate in competitions, exhibitions, and innovation programs across the UAE.
One of Naik’s earliest major projects focused on farming. In 2022, he developed a system that uses artificial intelligence to predict soil mineral concentrations. The project considers factors such as soil composition, temperature, pH, and rainfall before estimating mineral concentrations.
The aim was to help farmers make better decisions about crop cultivation by providing additional information about their soil conditions. The project won first prize at the GITEX YouthX Hackathon in 2022, giving Naik early recognition for his approach to using technology to address practical problems.
“I have spent nearly my entire life in a country that embraces ambitious ideas, advanced technology, and sustainable development. What inspires me most is the UAE leadership’s ability to turn bold visions into reality,” Naik told news agencies.
“The UAE has taught me that true innovation is not simply about creating something impressive or technical, it is about addressing genuine challenges and making people’s lives better,” shared Naik.
Naik's next major project moved from agriculture to transportation. In 2023, he created a system designed to estimate vehicle fuel consumption and help improve fuel efficiency. The project was developed with the UAE's sustainability goals in mind and won first prize at the RTA Dubai Sustainability and Transport Innovation Hackathon that year.
Rather than focusing only on the technical side, the project explored how data could help motorists and transport systems understand fuel use and potentially reduce unnecessary consumption.
More recently, Naik turned his attention towards a very different problem: manipulated digital content. In January 2026, he and his team developed a browser extension designed to detect deepfakes. The project was created during the InnovateX Hackathon organized by the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority.
The tool was designed to help identify manipulated content and address concerns around misinformation and digital fraud. It received the Most Innovative Project award at the event. For Naik, the project also fits into a broader interest in responsible technology and digital safety.
“The UAE gave me a safe, peaceful, and opportunity-rich environment where young people are encouraged to experiment, take initiative, and turn their ideas into reality. I try to utilize my knowledge of AI to create solutions for challenges people face in society,” stated Naik. “It gave me the chance to explore how AI can contribute to the UAE’s sustainability goals,” recalled Naik.
His work has extended beyond hackathons. In 2022, one of his projects was selected by the Sharjah Private Education Authority for exhibition at GESS Dubai. In 2024, Naik and his school team represented the Middle East in the international OTIS Made to Move Communities program. Their EcoWheels project, which explored sustainable transportation, finished second internationally. He was also the CBSE Grade 12 topper at his school for the 2024-25 batch.
“Our focus was aimed at supporting the UAE’s policies on digital safety and responsible use of emerging technologies. In essence, my aim is not simply to build technology, but to use it responsibly to solve genuine problems and make a meaningful difference in people’s lives,” explained Naik.
Naik has also organized TEDxSISJ Youth and later delivered a TEDx talk on the “Phygital World”. His projects show a consistent theme: technology is being used as a means rather than an end. Whether the challenge involves soil, fuel consumption or fake digital content, Naik's focus remains on turning technical knowledge into solutions that can have a practical impact.