Adelaide-born inventor Simeon La Barrie, now working across the US and Asia, urges builders and businesses to focus on presence, access, and real-world use-not hype.

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESS Newswire / February 11, 2026 / Simeon La Barrie, founder, inventor, and early AI pioneer, is raising awareness of a growing gap between how technology is built and how people actually use it. Drawing on decades of self-taught development, global patent work, and hands-on building, La Barrie is advocating for a more practical, human-first approach to innovation-one focused on connection, accessibility, and real outcomes.

"Technology only matters if it removes friction for real people," La Barrie said. "If it doesn't make life clearer, faster, or more human, then it's noise."

La Barrie's perspective comes at a time when digital interaction dominates daily life. According to recent studies, over 80% of consumers say they want more human interaction in online experiences, while nearly 70% abandon digital platforms due to complexity or lack of trust. At the same time, live commerce and video-based interactions are growing rapidly, with global live shopping projected to exceed $500 billion annually within the next few years.

La Barrie believes this growth highlights a simple truth: people value presence, clarity, and trust more than novelty.

"I've always been interested in removing distance," he said. "Letting someone feel like they are there, even when they're not."

His work on the patented "I Am There" technology reflects this belief. Built by a small team in the US and now protected by issued patents across the US, Singapore, Australia, and China, the technology focuses on live video interaction, real-time decision-making, and payments. The goal is not automation for its own sake, but meaningful connection.

"At the time, people didn't call it AI," La Barrie explained. "We were just building systems that responded, learned, and helped people act in real time."

The need for this approach is growing. Research shows that over 60% of small businesses struggle with digital tools that feel disconnected from how customers actually behave, and nearly half of new tech products fail due to lack of real-world adoption, not lack of capability.

La Barrie traces his thinking back to his early life in Adelaide, where responsibility came early after the loss of his mother and leaving school at 15.

"When you don't have a manual, you learn by doing," he said. "That stays with you."

He later applied the same mindset to technology, learning by listening to experienced business leaders, testing ideas, and staying close to real users rather than trends.

"Patents aren't trophies," La Barrie added. "They're proof you solved something that actually works."

Beyond technology, La Barrie is also advocating for individual responsibility in how people use and evaluate tools. He encourages founders, creators, and everyday users to ask simpler questions.

"Does this tool save time? Does it remove confusion? Does it help someone make a decision?" he said. "If not, move on."

What Individuals Can Do Now

La Barrie suggests practical steps anyone can take:

• Choose tools that simplify, not complicate

• Prioritise live interaction and clear communication

• Support platforms that respect time, privacy, and trust

• Learn by building and testing, not waiting for permission

• Share knowledge once something works

"Innovation doesn't belong to companies alone," he said. "It belongs to anyone willing to solve a real problem."

As technology continues to expand into every part of daily life, La Barrie believes progress will depend less on buzzwords and more on execution grounded in reality.

"Innovation isn't loud," he said. "It's consistent."

Call to Action

Individuals, founders, and teams are encouraged to reassess the tools they use every day. Choose technology that brings people closer, removes friction, and serves real needs. Start by simplifying one process this week and build from there.

About Simeon La Barrie

Simeon La Barrie is an Australian-born inventor, founder, and early AI pioneer based between the United States and Asia. A former Australian footballer, he is the CEO, founder, and inventor behind patented real-time video, commerce, and interaction technologies issued in the US and internationally. La Barrie is also active in mentoring, philanthropy, and global innovation initiatives, with a focus on developing practical technologies that connect people more directly.

Media Contact:
Simeon La Barrie
info@simeonlabarrie.com
https://www.simeonlabarrie.com/

SOURCE: Simeon La Barrie