When computers were first invented, the only people in the world that could operate them, were scientists. Fast forward to the modern days of internet, almost everyone can operate a computer.
From desktop PCs, laptops, tablets, smartphones to smart watches, they are all computers made in various sizes and shapes, designed for various purposes and needs.
Young children can use them, and sometimes even better than their adults counterparts.
But none of them can compare to Kautilya Katariya, from East Hunsbury, UK.
In 2020, he became the youngest computer programmer at the age of six.
The computer whiz was born on 27 September 2013. He received the Guinness World Records at the age of 6 years and 346 days old, when he was verified in Northampton, UK, on 6 September 2020.
And this time, he became the youngest person to receive IBM's AI Certification, after taking a series of online AI courses from IBM.
According to IBM on its blog post:
According to Kautilya Katariya's website which was set up, Katariya specializes in Python.
"Very much interested in Technology and computer programming and out of interest I started learning different computer programing languages at home in my spare time when I was in only in Year-1," said Katariya.
"But school closer gave me more time to invest on my own interests so I went ahead and started exploring how computer programming works, I moved to exploring computing and programming Python/Javascript/HTML5/CSS3 along with algorithms, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. I have proficiency in Python. Learning IBM watson and bits of Algorithms, AI and ML."
Such accomplishment is a feat not many people can attain.
As the internet reaches more places, and as more content is made accessible through the web, anyone with an internet connection and a curious mind can learn new things by not even leaving the comforts of their homes.
And that includes learning complex subjects like AI and machine learning.
However, it takes real curiosity, dedication and skills to really become a world record holder.
Plenty of children have learned to code at a young age, but Katariya is the youngest to achieve the certification levels.
As of November 2020, Kautilya has received five certifications in Python and AI from IBM. He also completed IBM’s Foundations of AI professional certification on edX and the Python for Data Science course from IBM Cognitive Class.
In the modern days of technology where almost everything that is digital is programmed, a proficient programmer can make nearly anything.
"I'd build a robot that could do anything," said young Kautilya Katariya. "If you were sick it could be a doctor. Of if you needed a lift it could be a rocket ship."
But just like other child his age, his achievements and titles don't phase him much. In an interview for example, Katariya was more excited explaining the differences between mode, median and mean averages than discussing his world record.
"The record is nice to have," says father Ishwari, an IT developer. "But the best thing is it's self driven."
"He was very focused from an early age. Whatever he would do - like Lego or playing with blocks - he would get involved so much that he wouldn't hear any noise around him. He started reading early, about three and a half years old. And he wasn't always interested in stories as much as facts and non-fiction. These things were quite remarkable."
Mother Trupti who herself is a data analyst, couldn't agree more.
"I'm happy as he did it while still being a child. He still plays with his friends. He's still full of mischief."
"I don't think the record is important to him," Trupti added. "But he knows what he's doing. I'm happy he's done it while still playing like a child."
Neither of Katariya's parents expected how much their son would read books given to him. He read every book they gave him, and with his newly-learned knowledge, he could create things like a sorting algorithm, a pathfinder, or a password verification system, or even a chatbot.
By this point, young Katariya had progressed to coding manuals. And this was when his parents wondered if it would be worth seeing if their six-year-old could get certified for a world record.
It should be noted that while Katariya is the youngest to have ever received IBM's AI Certification, he is at this time the second person to have achieved this 'Youngest Qualified Computer Programmer' Guinness World Records.
The previous record holder for Youngest Computer Programmer was Arham Om Talsania from Ahmedabad, India. He received the title in January 2020 when he was 6 years and 364 days old, just a few weeks older than Katariya.