About Me

Currently, I serve as Senior Director of GenAI Engineering at Blue Yonder, a global leader in supply chain logistics, where I drive innovation in supply chain logistics through strategic implementation of generative AI technologies. Working with some of the brightest minds in the industry, our work focuses on transforming how global commerce functions through careful application of AI to real-world challenges in a rapidly evolving environment and industry.

Research & Innovation

I founded Omneity Labs in late 2022, as a private Generative AI R&D lab specialized in low-resource languages and cultural alignment, and focused on driving Gen AI R&D for low-resource languages, developing multilingual LLMs, embeddings, translation, and specialized models for languages traditionally ignored by major tech companies. This research represents my broader commitment to reducing the digital divide and preserving linguistic diversity in the age of AI.

In 2023, I pioneered the first Large Language Model for Moroccan Darija, supporting both Arabic and Latin scripts. This endeavor involved curating an extensive corpus and architecting a sophisticated data and ML pipeline that captures the linguistic subtleties and cultural essence of Morocco, on my own and with limited priot art. Though Sawalni remains limited by computational infrastructure, it has already served thousands of users—both Moroccan nationals and international visitors—in controlled deployments and public demonstrations, bridging cultural divides through technology.

I presented some of my research work on Moroccan Darija and Generative AI at the 7th International Congress for Moroccan Arabic at the University of Navarra, Spain and at the TIM'24 conference at the University Hassan II, Morocco. Papers are in the process of being published.

A particular interest of mine is creating AI systems that augment human capabilities rather than replace them. This approach has guided my development of smaller, more efficient models tailored to specific cultural contexts — models that might outperform larger systems within their intended use cases.

I regularly share insights on AI, software engineering, and technology trends through speaking engagements, podcasts, and conferences, with a focus on GenAI applications, technological innovation, and promoting AI accessibility for low-resource languages.

Entrepreneurship

My passion for entrepreneurship stems from a desire to mold the future I want to see, rather than passively accept what is. In a world where large corporations can wield immense technological power, reinforcing existing power structures and the information asymmetry between the largest and smallest players, I believe that entrepreneurship and individual initiative are some of the most important tools we have to create a more equitable and sustainable future.

Most of the products I've launched have been in the realm of data and information, in particular to bridge the information gap and make it easier for individuals and smaller groups alike to surface signal from noise and make better decisions, proving the efficient market hypothesis and creating value for everyone involved along the way.

As an entrepreneur, I've launched several products addressing distinct technological needs:

• Herd — Browser Superpowers for AI agents, providing MCP servers and function-calling capabilities that enable agents to operate any website.
• Sawalni — The first AI assistant and LLM model built specifically for Moroccan Darija, addressing the digital divide and making knowledge accessible in an underrepresented language.
• Tarjamli — The first translation app and NMT model for Moroccan Darija, Arabic and several international languages, bridging the gap between Moroccan and global communities.
• Monitoro — A platform that has delivered millions of notifications and integrations, empowering users with real-time information for informed decision-making.
• QR8R — A solution for dynamic and trackable QR codes that simplifies marketing analytics and link performance tracking.

Personal Background

Growing up in Morocco's multilingual environment shaped my perspective on technology's role in cultural expression. As a child using computers in foreign languages, I experienced firsthand the disconnect between technology and cultural identity — a challenge that later inspired my work in localization and language technology.

Strongly driven by curiosity, and thankful for the knowledge and resources available to me, I have always been fascinated by how the world works, from natural phenomenae to human-made dynamics. This curiosity has led me to pursue research and innovation both as a personal interest and as a professional endeavor.

I dabbled in computer science, theoretical physics, and linguistics and simulation of complex systems since I was a child - my first working line of code was in BASIC on an Amstrad CPC at six years old, and I have pursued a deeper understanding of the universe and our societies ever since. I prefer to acquire knowledge by learning and doing over other more rigid and formal routes.

My journey into AI for low-resource languages started with a desire for a better voice assistant I can speak to without translating every single thought, and later on to help my family and community. It has unexpectedly deepened my connection to my heritage as I got more involved in the research and development of models for Moroccan Darija. Through researching linguistic patterns, lost or rare vocabulary, and cultural associations for AI development, I've rediscovered aspects of my culture and language that I hadn't engaged with in years.

As a polyglot fluent in multiple languages, I bring a cross-cultural perspective to both my professional work and personal projects. I believe that technology should serve human needs in culturally relevant ways, and I'm committed to developing solutions that reflect this philosophy.

Vision & Philosophy

I envision technology as a bridge that connects cultures while preserving what makes each community unique. Whether through enterprise AI applications, accessible language models, or browser automation tools, my goal is to create technology that serves genuine human needs and contributes to more equitable access to knowledge.

Looking ahead, I'm particularly interested in the convergence of various AI applications and their potential to address meaningful problems. As these technologies evolve, I remain committed to ensuring they amplify human potential in ways that respect cultural diversity and promote inclusive innovation.