At 16, Indian AI prodigy Raul John Aju pays father Rs 2 lakh salary

Sixteen-year-old Raul John Aju, dubbed the "AI Kid of India", is already running an artificial intelligence business while attending Class 12 Commerce. Based in Kerala, the prodigious teenager has garnered attention for creating AI tools, educating others on the technology, and transforming his passion into a startup. An unusual aspect of his journey is that his father, who works for various tech giants like Amazon, Adobe, Wipro, and IBM, receives a monthly salary of Rs 2 lakh from his son's company.

Raul's father's professional experience has provided the teenager with an experienced mentor within his own business. At a recent session on Gen Z at the Manorama News Conclave 2026 in Kochi, Raul emphasized that young people today have unprecedented access to information and are more willing to question established norms. His fascination with technology began around the age of nine, initially exploring video editing before developing a keen interest in AI.

Raul later created MeBot, a robot programmed to mimic his voice, as a school science project. Operating under the banner of AIRealm Technologies, Raul has developed a series of AI projects and tools. He has reportedly created 15 AI tools and trained over five lakh people in AI. His initiatives include JustEase, an AI-driven tool developed in collaboration with the Kerala government to assist people in emergencies, and Rescue AI, which offers emergency guidance, law information, and legal aid.

Raul has also had the opportunity to interact with high-profile figures, such as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, at technology summits. Despite his young age, Raul is currently managing his studies, running his AI business, and working on solutions to real-world problems.