Largely self-taught, Raul built his first robot at age 12 and has developed more than 10 AI tools. He has advised the governments of Kerala and Dubai on the integration of AI into public services and is the founder of AI Realm Technologies.
Raul’s achievements have led to speaking engagements at major tech companies and invitations to international conferences, such as last week’s India AI Summit in New Delhi 2026, where he was introduced to Amandeep Gill, the UN Special Envoy for Digital and Emerging Technologies, and to the Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
After a UN organised panel discussion on AI and child safety, where he delivered the opening speech, Raul sat down with Anshu Sharma from UN News to talk about his business journey, his hopes for the future and how young people can best engage with AI.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length
UN News: What made you interested in technology?
Raul John Aju: I discovered technology through video editing. When my father got a job at Adobe, I got free access to all the premium tools and was able to learn about AI. Then I made my robot [known as MeBot, built for a school science project].
UN News: How did you come to start your own business?
Raul John Aju: The main reason was that I wanted all the tools I built under one brand name. I also wanted to create a payment system to make people’s lives easier, so that they can just use a QR code to pay for things, if they don’t have a credit or debit card.
UN News: Tell me about some of your AI innovations.
Raul John Aju: One of them is the Rescue AI tool. The idea is that, if you are involved in an emergency, the tool will tell you what to do and what laws apply. It puts you in touch with a lawyer and also helps the lawyer develop a strategy to win the case by looking at thousands of similar cases.
Another project is the ThinkCraft Academy, where you can learn about AI and build your own tools for use in everyday life. The courses are free and more than seven million people have been able to learn from them.
UN News: Your decision to employ your own father attracted a lot of attention. What was the thinking behind that?
Raul John Aju: I can gain as much knowledge as I want from my phone, but I don’t have his experience. He has worked for companies like Amazon, Adobe, Wipro and IBM, so I can learn from him. And honestly, it was good for my marketing too!
UN News: You have taught many students. What was that experience like?
Raul John Aju: I tell them that I want them all to use AI, but at the same time not forgetting the human in them. I always say that the most important skill in the world of AI is to be as human as possible.
UN News: Where do you see yourself in the next ten years?
I want to have enough money to get what I want, for my parents or for myself. At the same time, I want my tools to make people’s daily lives easier. I also want to spend time in the West and continue learning.
UN News: How would you summarize your journey so far?
Raul John Aju: I guess I would say two things. First, be humble, otherwise the world will humiliate you. Second, follow your passion, not the money, because if you follow your passion, the money will come automatically.
#Kid #India #encourages #youth #embrace #technology