Raul John Aju: A Self-Taught AI Success Story
Speaking to UN News at the India AI Summit, Raul John Aju shared his passion for technology and why we should fully embrace artificial intelligence. Largely self-taught, Raul built his first robot at age 12 and has since developed over 10 AI tools. He has consulted for the governments of Kerala and Dubai on integrating 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 the 2026 India AI Summit in New Delhi last week. At this summit, he had the opportunity to meet Amandeep Gill, the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Digital and Emerging Technologies, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
After delivering the opening remarks at a UN-organized panel discussion on AI and child safety, Raul spoke with Anshu Sharma from UN News about his entrepreneurial journey, future aspirations, and how young people can best interact with AI. This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
Curiosity and First Steps in Technology
- UN News: How did your interest in technology begin?
- Raul John Aju: I discovered technology through video editing. When my father started working at Adobe, I gained free access to all premium tools and could learn about AI. After that, I created my robot (known as MeBot, built for a school science project).
Founding a Company and Innovative Projects
- UN News: How did you decide to start your own company?
- Raul John Aju: The main reason was that I wanted all the tools I developed to be under a single brand name. I also wanted to create a payment system to make people’s lives easier, so they could pay using just a QR code, even without credit or debit cards.
- UN News: Can you tell us about your AI innovations?
- Raul Aju: One of them is the Rescue AI tool. The idea is that if you are in an emergency, the tool will tell you what to do and which laws apply. It will connect you with a lawyer and also help the lawyer develop a strategy to win the case by examining thousands of similar cases. Another project is ThinkCraft Academy. Here, you can progress from learning AI to building your own tools that you can use in daily life. The courses are free, and over seven million people have learned from them.
Hiring His Father and Student Experiences
- UN News: Your decision to hire your father attracted a lot of attention. What was the thinking behind it?
- Raul John Aju: I can learn as much as I want from my phone, but I don’t have his experience. He worked at companies like Amazon, Adobe, Wipro, and IBM, so I can learn from him. Plus, to be honest, 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 start using AI, but also not to forget the human within them. I always say that the most important skill in the world of AI is to be as human as possible.
Future Plans and Life Lessons
- UN News: Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years?
- Raul John Aju: I want to have enough money to buy everything I want for my parents or myself. At the same time, I want my tools to simplify people’s daily lives. 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 think I would say two things. First, be humble, or the world will humble you. Second, pursue your passion, not money, because if you pursue your passion, money will automatically follow.
