Kerala Teen ‘AI Kid’ Builds AI Tools While Studying Commerce, Teaches Technology to Students

While most Class 12 students are preparing for board examinations and planning their next academic step, Kerala teenager Raul John Aju has been building artificial intelligence (AI) tools, running a technology education platform and conducting AI workshops for students and professionals.

Known online as “Raul the Rockstar” and often referred to as the “AI Kid of India,” Raul has pursued technology despite studying Commerce rather than the conventional engineering or computer science stream.

From self-learning at nine to building AI tools

Raul's interest in technology reportedly began when he was around nine years old. What started as independent learning and experimentation gradually developed into AI projects and educational initiatives.

A Plus Two Commerce student at North Edappally GHSS, Raul is also associated with AIRealm Technologies, where he describes himself as founder and CTO. His projects include AI-based tools such as ThinkCraft, RESQ AI and MeBot.

He is also the founder of ThinkCraft Academy, an initiative focused on helping students and professionals understand and use emerging technologies.

Taking AI beyond the classroom

Raul's work extends beyond developing technology. He has conducted workshops and awareness sessions on AI for students, teachers and professionals, with an emphasis on making the technology accessible to people without a technical background.

His public profiles state that he has delivered eight TEDx talks and conducted sessions at IITs, universities and schools. He has also built an online following of more than 500,000 people, where he shares content related to AI and emerging technologies.

His approach is centred on experimentation and hands-on learning rather than relying exclusively on formal qualifications.

Using technology to solve real-world problems

An account of Raul's journey also highlights his curiosity about solving practical problems using technology. In one reported incident, he investigated a suspicious scam message instead of simply ignoring it, attempting to understand how the scam worked.

Such experiences appear to have reinforced his interest in using technology as a problem-solving tool.

Can Commerce students build careers in AI?

Raul's journey challenges the perception that careers in AI are limited to students pursuing engineering or Computer Science.

While advanced AI research and development require strong foundations in mathematics, programming and computer science, the wider AI ecosystem also needs entrepreneurs, educators, product developers, designers and domain specialists.

For Raul, the journey into AI began with curiosity and self-learning rather than a conventional technical degree.

His experience highlights how hands-on experimentation, independent learning and the willingness to build can open alternative pathways into the technology sector—even for students studying subjects traditionally considered unrelated to AI.