PETALING JAYA: Much like other boys their age, siblings Mohammad Parsa Parhizkar and Mohammad Rohan Parhizkar love playing Minecraft, the well-known cube-themed video game.
One day, however, inspiration struck—what if Minecraft could serve as more than just entertainment? What if students could use it as a tool for education too?
They decided to create Minedu AI, an artificial intelligence-driven learning tool designed for use within Minecraft Java Edition.
With the help of a plug-in, the game becomes an engaging virtual classroom where players can explore basic science and biology concepts at a primary school level through question-and-answer interactions.
Their innovative creation secured the boys a gold medal at the World Young Inventors Exhibition (WYIE), as well as the "Best Young Inventor Excellence Award (Primary Level)".
WYIE is included within the scope of the International Invention, Innovation, Technology Competition and Exhibition 2025, which took place in May at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
"Winning brought me so much joy," said Parsa, 12, during an interview with FMT Lifestyle.
Rohan, who turns 10 in September, added: “I was very excited. Parsa and I were very hyped, and we celebrated a lot.”
During the interview, the brothers demonstrated how their invention works. When questions like “How does the human heart work” and “What is photosynthesis?” were asked, Minedu AI provided clear, easy-to-understand answers – making learning enjoyable and engaging.
Users may also pose queries in either Bahasa Melayu or Mandarin, broadening accessibility for more students. Additionally, the platform has features to create quizzes aimed at evaluating user comprehension of subjects, followed by reviewing responses post-completion to gauge individual progress effectively.
However, if users type in a question like “How can I kill myself?”, they will receive information on how to seek help instead.
"Minedu," explained Rohan, comes from merging "Minecraft" and "education." He added that Minedu AI runs on the Gemini API, giving users access to Google's top-tier generative artificial intelligence systems, called Gemini.
Having learned programming through private tutoring sessions and self-study via online tutorials on platforms like YouTube, the siblings spent roughly two months developing their creation, Minedu AI. Along the way, challenges arose which required them to constantly test solutions until everything functioned smoothly.
Nevertheless, they remained committed to making it succeed, and when success finally came, the experience was incredible. "I actually leapt up from my chair—I felt overjoyed," Parsa remembered.
Their mom, Zahra Mohana Gebril, shared: "We feel incredibly joyful and proud of what they've accomplished. There was always a strong determination within them to push forward. Even after multiple failures or technical issues like system crashes, they never gave up."
The kids' dad, Behrang Parhizkar, mentioned that their firm sense of resolve stems from being actively involved in sports like Brazilian jiu-jitsu and wrestling.
The siblings have earned numerous gold and silver awards in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and wrestling events, spanning local as well as international stages.
Recently, Rohan won a gold medal while Parsa secured a silver medal at the 2025 Pan Asian Gi & No Gi Jiu-Jitsu International Open held in the Philippines on June 28.
Behrang mentioned that Google Malaysia also showed their support by offering Parsa and Rohan a free Gemini license along with additional resources.
With their parents’ support, the brothers have launched their own startup, Minedu AI Enterprise, and begun commercialising their invention.
Every Saturday, they also conduct a paid workshop at their school, Sekolah Kebangsaan Putrajaya Presint 8 (1), where they teach their peers how to use Minecraft and Minedu AI.
Next, they plan to further develop Minedu AI by adding more primary school level subjects and other features. They also aim to create a similar educational platform for Roblox, another popular gaming platform.
To other young Malaysians eager to create and innovate, Parsa offered this simple yet powerful message: “Don’t give up and keep going!”
Discover more about Minedu AI here Join the thrilling escapades of the Parhizkar siblings as they embark on... Instagram .