DosthAI wins Rep. Michael T. McCaul’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Texas’ 10th District

Rep. Michael T. McCaul has named Karthik Darisi, a twelfth grader at Lake Travis High School, as the winner of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Texas’ 10th District.

When asked what inspired the creation of DosthAI, the student said, “My journey to create DosthAI began in an unexpected place—at a swim pool, coaching the Lake Travis Special Olympics Swim team. As a varsity swimmer, I had the opportunity to coach the Special Olympics team, specifically autistic athletes, and it was here that I discovered the immense potential many of them had. One athlete in particular stood out. He struggled to communicate during practices but had an incredible ability to understand and follow strategies once given time to process. Watching this unfold over time, I realized that with the right support, these individuals could achieve far more than most people expected.

This experience sparked a deeper interest in understanding autism. I began researching neurodivergence, and the more I learned, the more passionate I became about finding ways to help. I recognized that many of the challenges autistic individuals face, especially in social interactions, could be addressed with the right tools. However, I noticed a gap in available resources that could offer personalized, scalable solutions. Inspired by the athletes I coached, I was determined to find a way to make a broader impact.

In my junior year, my love for computer science led me to focus my research on AI and autism intervention. I started exploring how AI could be harnessed to create personalized social stories and contextual visual tasks—narratives that help autistic individuals understand social situations and manage challenges like transitions or changes in routine. I devoted countless hours to understanding the science behind this intersection of AI and autism support. This topic became my focus for AP Research, and my paper on the subject earned a perfect score, solidifying my commitment to the project.

This research laid the foundation for DosthAI, a platform I built to empower not just the autistic community, but also parents, therapists, and educators. DosthAI uses cutting-edge AI to create content from text, images, and audio, offering individualized social stories that cater to different learning styles. The platform provides a scalable and accessible solution, helping more children overcome social challenges and realize their full potential. For me, it was a full-circle moment—what started as a coaching experience with the Special Olympics has now turned into a mission to make a real, lasting difference for autistic individuals everywhere.”

This year’s Congressional App Challenge set new records, with an unprecedented 382 Members of the House of Representatives hosting competitions—surpassing the previous high of 374. An incredible 12,682 students from across the country participated, representing a growth of over 1,000 students compared to 2023. These talented students submitted an astounding 3,881 original applications, showcasing their creativity, passion for technology, and the limitless potential of America’s next generation of innovators. This surge in participation reflects the increasing excitement around STEM and highlights a bright future for American innovation.

The Congressional App Challenge is an official initiative of the U.S. House of Representatives, where Members of Congress host contests in their districts for middle school and high school students, encouraging them to learn to code and inspiring them to pursue careers in computer science. This resounding show of bipartisan support emphasizes the critical importance of STEM education in today’s rapidly evolving world. Each participating Member of Congress selects a winning app from their district, and each winning team is invited to showcase their winning app to Congress during our annual #HouseOfCode festival.

The program is a public-private partnership made possible through funding from the Broadcom Foundation, AWS, Rise, theCoderSchool, Apple, and others.

The 2024 Congressional App Challenge will launch in May of 2025, and eligible students can pre-register for the competition now.