A 16-year-old class 12 commerce student from Kerala has turned the tables by employing his own father at a monthly salary of Rs 2 lakh. Raul John from Pathanamthitta built his first robot at age 12 and now runs two AI startups that have trained nearly 5 lakh students worldwide.
The Boy Who Hired His Father
Raul studies commerce at North Edapally GHSS in Kerala. His father Aju Joseph worked at Amazon, Adobe, Wipro, and IBM for years. Now Joseph works for his son’s company instead. Raul said his father’s corporate experience helps him learn practical skills that no phone can teach.
A Self-Taught AI Prodigy
Raul built his first robot when he was just 12 years old. He is largely self-taught and has developed 15 AI tools so far. These include RESQ AI, MeBot, ZapGap, Investo AI, and FeedFye. RESQ AI guides users during emergencies and connects them with lawyers. Each tool solves real-world problems rather than just showing technical skill.
Two Successful Startups
Raul founded AI Technologies and ThinkCraft Academy. Through ThinkCraft Academy, he has trained roughly 5 lakh students from IITs, IIMs, foreign universities, and corporate institutions. He believes AI should not be scary or difficult. Anyone can learn it without a computer science degree, he says.
Global Recognition and Speaking Engagements
Raul has spoken at major technology companies and international conferences. He has been invited to the India AI Summit 2026 in New Delhi. He was also a finalist at the World Education Medals 2025, a global competition by HP that highlights AI-driven education innovation. His social media handle Raul the Rockstar has around 5 lakh followers.
AI for Everyone
Raul says AI must be accessible to students in villages, professionals in offices, and anyone who wants to learn. His startups have a global reach with participants from remote locations worldwide contributing to a venture that started from a home in Kerala. He advises governments in Kerala and Dubai on integrating AI into public services.
