Simeon La Barrie’s career doesn’t follow a traditional path. Born in Adelaide, Australia, his early life was characterized by sport, responsibility and independence.
He played Australian football, surfed and spent much of his youth thinking about how things work. This attitude was formed early on when he left school at the age of 15 after the death of his mother and went to work to help his father.
“You learn quickly when life doesn’t give you much time to wait,” says La Barrie. “I had to figure things out on my own.”
This early responsibility became a pattern. Instead of formal education, he learned by listening, observing, and testing ideas. His grandfather and father, both business-minded, influenced his attitude toward work and perseverance.
Sports, curiosity and early entrepreneurship
Before technology came into play, La Barrie was known in Australia for football and its entrepreneurial spirit. He was always creating something, often companies designed to help other companies function better.
“Sport teaches discipline, but building something teaches responsibility,” he says. “If it doesn’t work, that’s on you.”
His curiosity extended beyond the field. Surfing and training kept him focused while business ideas motivated him. This combination of discipline and creativity earned him recognition over time, including appearances on Australian television for his work and innovation.
Discovering technology in California
A turning point came around the year 2000 while visiting family in California. La Barrie encountered the Internet at a time when it was still forming its identity. The experience stayed with him.
“I saw the Internet as a tool, not as entertainment,” he says. “It felt unfinished.”
In 2010, he began developing technologies focused on real-time interaction. While artificial intelligence was not yet mainstream, his work focused on software that mimicked presence and connection.
“They didn’t call it AI back then,” he explains. “But we built systems that learned and responded.”
Building an early AI vision
La Barrie describes himself as a self-taught developer and early AI pioneer. Along with a small team in the United States, he helped develop what later became known as “I Am There” technology. The idea was simple but ambitious. Enable people to interact, shop and transact live via video by combining presence and payment.
“It was about creating distance,” he says. “Making someone feel like they’re there even when they’re not.”
The technology combined live video, streaming and payment into a single experience. Comparisons were made to platforms like FaceTime, Amazon Live, QVC and WeChat, but La Barrie focused on functionality rather than labels.
Patents and global reach
The work resulted in several issued patents in the United States and internationally, including Singapore, Australia and China. These patents protect the core ideas behind live, interactive, in-store and online commerce experiences.
“Patents are not trophies,” says La Barrie. “You are proof that you have solved something new.”
As founder, CEO and inventor, he continues to drive the development of his company KokuAI Live. The technology is designed for both online and physical retail, bridging the gap between digital interaction and real-world presence.
Leadership through learning
La Barrie’s leadership style reflects his unconventional path. He values listening more than speaking and learning more than conjecture.
“I never thought that school was the only way to learn,” he says. “Experience teaches faster.”
He supervises students in Singapore and works closely with teams in different regions. His approach emphasizes speed, adaptation and clarity, shaped by years of self-directed learning and iteration.
Give something back through action
Philanthropy has remained a part of La Barrie’s life. He has supported charities such as Make-A-Wish in Los Angeles and children’s cancer hospitals. He sees mentoring as equally important.
“When you find something out, you share it,” he says. “That’s how progress moves.”
Outside of work, he stays active through surfing, tennis and working out. These routines keep his thinking sharp and grounded.
Where the vision evolves
Today, Simeon La Barrie remains focused on bringing technologies to market that connect people more directly. He avoids hype and prefers consistent implementation.
“Innovation is not loud,” he says. “It’s consistent.”
From dropping out of school early to developing patented technologies on every continent, La Barrie’s career reflects perseverance toward fine-tuning. His journey shows how discipline, curiosity and self-confidence can shape leadership in emerging industries, even without a traditional roadmap.
