From Football Fields to AI Innovation

Simeon La Barrie’s career does not follow a traditional path. Born in Adelaide, Australia, his early life was marked by sport, responsibility, and independence.

He played Australian football, surfed, and spent much of his youth thinking about how things worked. That mindset was shaped early when he left school at 15 after his mother passed away, stepping up to help his father.

“You learn quickly when life doesn’t give you much room to wait,” La Barrie says. “I had to figure things out on my own.”

That 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 how he thought about work and persistence.

Sport, Curiosity, and Early Entrepreneurship

Before technology entered the picture, La Barrie was known in Australia for football and his entrepreneurial drive. He was always creating something, often businesses designed to help other businesses operate better.

“Sport teaches discipline, but building something teaches accountability,” 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 kept him engaged. Over time, this combination of discipline and creativity earned him recognition, including appearances on national television in Australia for his work and innovation.

Discovering Technology in California

A turning point came around the year 2000 during a visit to 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 entertainment,” he says. “It felt unfinished.”

By 2010, he began building technology that focused on real-time interaction. While artificial intelligence was not yet mainstream, his work centered on software that replicated presence and connection.

“At the time, people didn’t call it AI,” he explains. “But we were building systems that learned and responded.”

Building an Early AI Vision

La Barrie describes himself as a self-taught developer and early AI pioneer. Working with a small team in the United States, he helped create what later became known as the “I Am There” technology. The idea was simple but ambitious. Allow people to interact, shop, and transact live through video, combining presence with payment.

“It was about removing distance,” he says. “Letting someone feel like they were there, even if they weren’t.”

The technology blended live video, streaming, and payment in 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 multiple issued patents across 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 aren’t trophies,” La Barrie says. “They’re proof you solved something new.”

As founder, CEO, and inventor, he continues to guide development through 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 credits listening more than speaking and learning more than assuming.

“I never thought school was the only way to learn,” he says. “Experience teaches faster.”

He mentors students in Singapore and works closely with teams across regions. His approach values speed, adaptation, and clarity, shaped by years of self-directed learning and iteration.

Giving Back Through Action

Philanthropy has remained 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.

“If you’ve figured something out, you share it,” he says. “That’s how progress moves.”

Outside work, he stays active through surfing, tennis, and training. These routines keep his thinking sharp and grounded.

Where the Vision Continues to Evolve

Today, Simeon La Barrie remains focused on bringing technology to market that connects people more directly. He avoids hype and prefers steady execution.

“Innovation isn’t loud,” he says. “It’s consistent.”

From leaving school early to building patented technology across continents, La Barrie’s career reflects persistence over polish. His path shows how discipline, curiosity, and self-belief can shape leadership in emerging industries, even without a traditional roadmap.