CIK Talk — Tech and AI Sovereignty: Why the Muslim Community Can’t Afford to Wait

​Dr. Waleed Kadous is a leading expert in artificial intelligence with over 25 years of experience in building and deploying AI systems. He completed his PhD in AI in 2000 and has held senior leadership roles across some of the world’s most influential technology companies.

Dr. Kadous founded Google’s Android Location and Sensing team—responsible for the widely recognized “blue dot”—and later led system architecture and machine learning initiatives at Uber. He has also served as Chief Scientist at multiple startups and led AI Engineering at Canva. His work is reflected in more than 40 patents across AI and related technologies.

In recent years, Dr. Kadous has focused on the intersection of artificial intelligence, Islam, and ethics. He is the creator of Ansari, an Islamic AI assistant, and developed the “AI for Imams” course, aimed at equipping religious leaders with the tools to navigate emerging technological challenges. His work reflects a commitment to ensuring that AI is developed and applied in ways that are ethically grounded and socially beneficial.