Quick-Thinking Teen Uses Alexa to Scare Away Monkeys, Earns Mahindra Job Offer

Nikita, a thirteen-year-old from Basti, Uttar Pradesh, never expected using her quick thinking to stop a monkey attack with Alexa would make her an overnight sensation. She even received a job offer from Mahindra chairman Anand Mahindra for when she grows up!

Taking to social media, Mahindra described Nikita’s “quick thinking as extraordinary” and promised her a job at Mahindra if she ever decided to pursue a corporate career after finishing school.

On his social media platform, Mahindra wrote, “The dominant question of our era is whether we will become slaves or masters of technology. The story of this young girl provides comfort that technology will always be an enabler of human ingenuity. Her quick thinking was extraordinary.”

He further stated, “What she demonstrated was the potential for leadership in an entirely unpredictable world. After she finishes her education, if she ever decides to work in the corporate world, I hope we at @MahindraRise will be able to convince her to join us!”

Nikita, with the help of Alexa’s voice commands, successfully protected herself and her niece when monkeys entered their home.

The incident occurred at Pankaj Ojha’s residence in Basti’s Awas Vikas Colony. While other family members were elsewhere in the house, his daughter Nikita was playing with her 15-month-old niece on the sofa. The monkeys entered and caused chaos, throwing utensils and searching for food.

Though scared, Nikita spotted the Alexa device on the fridge as the monkeys approached. She immediately commanded Alexa to bark. The loud barking sounds from the device frightened the monkeys, who fled outside through the balcony.

Nikita explained, “A few guests visited our house and left the gate open. Monkeys entered the kitchen and started throwing things here and there. The kid was scared and so was I, but then I saw Alexa and asked it to play the sound of a dog. Due to that barking sound, the monkeys were scared and ran away.”

This 13-year-old girl’s clever use of a virtual assistant ensured a troop of monkeys wouldn’t harm her young niece.

Pankaj Ojha acknowledged the benefits of technology but stressed the importance of children using it with proper supervision.