New Delhi – Raul John Aju, a 16-year-ancient from Kerala, India, met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the 2026 India AI Summit, underscoring the growing international recognition of the young innovator’s work in artificial intelligence. The meeting followed Aju’s opening address at a UN-organised panel discussion on AI and children’s safety.
Largely self-taught, Aju began his journey into technology through video editing, gaining access to Adobe’s premium tools through his father’s employment with the company. This early exposure sparked an interest that led him to build his first robot, “MeBot,” as a school science project at the age of 12. Since then, he has developed over ten AI tools and founded AI Realm Technologies.
Aju’s work has extended beyond personal projects. He has advised the governments of Kerala and Dubai on integrating AI into public services, demonstrating a practical application of his expertise. His achievements have similarly led to speaking engagements at major technology companies and invitations to international conferences, including the recent summit in New Delhi.
During a conversation with UN News’ Anshu Sharma, Aju explained his motivation for establishing AI Realm Technologies. “The main reason was I wanted all of the tools that I had built to be under one brand name,” he said. “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.”
Among Aju’s AI innovations is “Rescue AI,” a tool designed to provide guidance during emergency situations. According to Aju, the tool offers legal information, connects users with legal counsel and assists lawyers in developing case strategies by analyzing similar past cases. He has also created “ThinkCraft Academy,” an online platform offering free AI education to a global audience, with over seven million learners to date.
Aju’s decision to hire his own father at AI Realm Technologies attracted significant attention. He explained the rationale behind this move, stating, “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. Also, to be honest, it was good for my marketing!”
Aju emphasizes the importance of maintaining human connection alongside technological advancement in his educational efforts. “I tell them that I want all of them to start using AI but at the same time not forget the human inside them,” he said. “I always say that the most key skill in the world of AI is to be as human as possible.”
Looking ahead, Aju expressed a desire to continue learning and expanding his work. “I do want to have enough money to be able to obtain whatever I want for my parents or for myself,” he stated. “At the same time, I want my tools to make daily life easier for people. I also want to spend time in the West and keep on learning.”
Aju summarized his journey with two key principles: “First of all, be humble or the world will humble you. Second, follow your passion, not money, because if you follow your passion, the money will automatically come.”
