I left Google after 10 years to launch my AI startup in Tokyo
Jad Tarifi’s journey from Google to entrepreneurship
Jad Tarifi, 42, spent nearly a decade at Google after earning a Ph.D. in AI from the University of Florida in 2012. In 2020, he relocated to Japan and founded his own AI startup, Integral AI, a year later.
Experience and philosophy shaped at Google
At Google, Tarifi witnessed many AI breakthroughs, including the development of the transformer model. His management style is influenced by that experience, focusing on empowering engineers and fostering a compassionate, open work environment.
“Working at Google was a great experience. Many breakthroughs in the field that we see today, like the transformer, were either invented or developed at Google. A lot of my management philosophy comes from my experience at Google. At my startup, I try to empower my engineers by leading with compassion and creating a safe environment for them to voice their opinions.”
Choosing Japan over Silicon Valley
Tarifi believes he can achieve much more in Japan than in Silicon Valley because Google’s focus on advertising revenue limits ventures like building personal AGI, which do not fit their business model.
“Google is good at generating revenue from advertising and is very much invested in that business model. But if you want to do something different, like build a personal AGI, that might not fit with their advertising model.”
Summary
Jad Tarifi left Google to pursue his vision of AI with more freedom in Japan, applying lessons learned to lead Integral AI with compassion and innovation in a supportive environment.