From building punch-powered physics projects as a teen to leading a cutting-edge AI company, Ravin Thambapillai’s journey is anything but traditional. Now a parent and CEO of Credal AI—a platform helping enterprises deploy secure AI agents—Ravin is also a passionate advocate for guiding the next generation of technologists. In a recent conversation with iD Tech, he shared how his early fascination with physics led him to startups, what families should really know about AI, and why structured learning environments like iD Tech camps are critical in preparing kids for an AI-powered future.
From curiosity to career
Ravin’s tech journey didn’t start in a lab—it started on a sidewalk.
“It started with a natural enjoyment of mathematics when I was about 6 years old,” he says. “My mother still berates me for the times we would be walking the sidewalk to school with my sister, and she would be helping my sister prepare for her maths tests by asking her times table questions, and I would blurt out the answer despite being a few years too young according to the school curriculum.”
By 16, he was building engineering projects before he even realized that’s what he was doing. “I jerry rigged a punch bag that would measure the strength of your punch out of a space hopper... based on the volume of water displaced, I had a little system that would automatically calculate the implied pressure on the space hopper and therefore the force exerted in Newtons.” It went viral among his friends—and sparked his love for building.
Years later, that spark would carry him through a journey that included roles at Google, GoCardless, Palantir, and eventually to founding Credal AI in 2022. “I became convinced that the AI work coming out of OpenAI’s research lab was a hugely underappreciated source of potential economic value, but that unlocking that value would require a tremendous amount of advances in how to govern and secure this technology. Thus Credal was born.”
Using AI to level up learning
Even as the CEO of an AI company, Ravin doesn’t believe AI should replace critical thinking—it should enhance it.
“I advise parents to encourage their kids to use AI to learn, but not to use it as a replacement for learning how to learn. It’s easy to use AI to answer homework questions, but that takes away the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills when children actually go through the process of figuring the answer out themselves.”
Instead, think of AI as a coach or copilot—someone (or something!) that pushes you to improve your thinking, not just hand you the answer. Here’s a better way to use AI for learning at home:
- Do the work first: have your child solve a problem or write a response without help
- Ask AI for assistance: if your child is stuck, use AI as a tutor by asking it to help them solve the problem without providing the answer
- Make a note: encourage your child to jot down the problem-solving process so they can take what AI taught them and put it into practice on their own next time
This approach not only deepens understanding—it builds independence, too.
Don’t count humans out!
With countless free tutorials and online resources, why would a parent invest in a structured camp? There is simply no substitute for the foundational framework that comes from learning, collaborating, and connecting—human to human.
Ravin believes, “Students with a guided learning environment can build a strong foundation in AI and coding, instead of piecing together concepts from online tutorials that may not cover foundational frameworks.”
AI might be able to cover curriculum, but collaboration skills are key, from camp to college to career. “Beyond learning concepts, structured camps help students with actually applying those skills in an interesting and challenging way via guided projects, which help with long-term retention. It’s also very helpful to have other people around to learn faster. Instructors can help students get immediate feedback and personalized guidance, and having peers provides a place to bounce ideas off and get exposure to other interesting projects.”
These human-to-human moments, like getting help from a mentor or getting inspired by a friend’s idea, can’t be replicated by AI. As advanced as AI is, it still has a long way to go when it comes to understanding the human element and how kids learn.
“What AI cannot do right now that would be transformative in the next decade, is for AI to reason and understand why a student is struggling, and adjust how it teaches to fit each student’s thinking style,” Ravin says.
That kind of personalized learning is irreplaceable—and iD Tech is doing what AI can’t. Through hands-on projects, collaboration, and guided exploration of AI tools, kids aren’t just learning about technology—they’re learning how to use it to think critically.
“The hopeful future with AI is that students will be able to learn faster, deeper, and in a way where students’ long-term retention is better,” Ravin adds. But until then, the best learning still starts with real people, real challenges, and real connection.
Want a fun way to introduce AI at home?
Ravin’s advice for families new to AI: make it fun and real. One of his favorite ideas? Start an imaginary mini business with your child using AI tools.
“When I think about fun ways to introduce kids to AI, I think of the idea of creating a simple business together. This will allow the child to explore several different AI use cases, think strategically, while having something practical to show for in the end.”
He breaks it down step by step: “First, AI tools can help brainstorm and validate business ideas based on trends and interests. Next, AI can come up with a business plan that will include objectives and the strategies, and steps that need to be taken to achieve these goals. Third, AI can help generate a business name, logo, and website. Once the business is live, AI-powered marketing tools can generate social media posts.”
If your child has dreams of becoming an entrepreneur or creator, AI can make it feel more attainable! It’s hands-on, exciting, and teaches creative problem-solving in a real-world context. As a family, try building an imaginary business in a weekend using AI so your child can see their dream come to life:
- Brainstorm ideas with AI based on your child’s interests (Think: “What business could a 10-year-old start involving pets?”)
- Use AI to create a business name, logo, and brand kit
- Explore tools like Canva, ChatGPT, or Wix to build a website with AI
- Use AI to write social posts or promotional emails for their “launch”
Make AI a family conversation
The AI world is evolving fast—but you don’t need to be a tech expert to keep up. Ravin suggests families make AI part of their routine. It’s a fun way to bond while raising thoughtful, tech-savvy kids who understand the power of AI and how to use it in an efficient, ethical way.
“Families should have ‘AI nights’ whenever new product releases from the foundation models like OpenAI, Anthropic, Mistral, LLaMA come out, as these organizations are on the cutting edge of new AI capabilities.” (Pro tip: check out Common Sense Media or The Artificial Intelligence Show Podcast for all things family and AI.)
Family nights are a great opportunity to stay informed and spark critical thinking. “Families can test out the new capabilities and have a critical discussion on what’s new that couldn’t be done before, and how that may affect society at large.”
How to host your own ‘AI Night’:
- Pick a new AI tool (like ChatGPT or Gemini) and explore what it can do
- Try challenges together like “write a poem about our family” or “help us plan a weekend trip”
- Talk about what’s cool—and what’s concerning by opening a discussion that includes questions like, “What should AI be used for? What should it not be used for?”
Ravin’s advice for the next generation (and their parents)
When it’s time for your child to think about college or future careers, Ravin recommends focusing on both technical know-how and human-centric skills.
“Looking ahead, students should focus on two key areas: understanding how computers work and mastering the unique human skills that AI can’t replace.” That includes learning to code—but also so much more like logic, data, and systems thinking. “AI is going to be the world’s most powerful tool, and the people who know how to use and shape it will have the biggest advantage.”
But don’t overlook the human side! Ravin reassures, “The skills AI can’t replace like creativity, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and taste—understanding what ‘good’ looks like as opposed to executing quickly—will set someone apart and make them invaluable.”
TL;DR
AI shouldn’t be a shortcut—it should be your child’s ultimate thought partner. We sat down with Ravin Thambapillai, parent and CEO of Credal AI, to further explore how families can use AI to fuel curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. Here's what you need to know:
Use AI to build thinking skills, not skip them. Have your child try solving problems on their own first, and if they're stuck, as AI questions like, "Can you help me solve this problem without providing the answer?"
Structured learning beats self-teaching. Programs like iD Tech provide hands-on projects, elite guidance, and peer collaboration—all things AI can’t replicate.
Try a weekend AI project. Build an “imaginary business” with your child using tools like ChatGPT and Canva to brainstorm, brand, and build.
Make AI part of family life. Host an “AI Night” to test new tools, ask big questions, and explore what’s new in tech together.
Teach both tech + human skills. Coding and AI literacy are key, but so are creativity, critical-thinking, and emotional intelligence.
The future belongs to kids who can think with AI, not just use it for immediate gratification—and the future starts now!
About Ravin Thambapillai
Ravin Thambapillai is a parent, as well as the co-founder and CEO of Credal AI, a platform that helps enterprises securely deploy AI agents across their organizations. After studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, Ravin pivoted to tech, landing a role at Google before moving into the startup world. He went on to work at GoCardless and Palantir, where he thrived in high-impact, mission-driven environments. In 2022—months before the public launch of ChatGPT—Ravin recognized the transformative potential of AI and founded Credal to focus on securing and scaling this powerful technology responsibly. He’s also a passionate advocate for STEM education and believes in AI not as a replacement for learning, but as a tool for deeper thinking and creativity—especially for the next generation.