# Jad Tarifi

> Jad Tarifi is the co-founder, CEO and Chief AI Scientist of Integral AI, a Tokyo- and Silicon Valley-based startup building energy-efficient, interactive world models aimed at scalable artificial general intelligence and embodied robotics. Before founding the company in 2021, he spent nearly a decade at Google, where he founded and led the company's first generative AI team and worked on neocortex-inspired learning from limited data. Born and raised in Lebanon, he holds a PhD in computer science and AI from the University of Florida and an MS in quantum computing. In December 2025 he drew global attention - and skepticism - by claiming Integral AI had built the world's first AGI-capable model, TOWA. He is also the author of the four-volume 'Freedom Series' on AI and human potential.

- **Role:** Co-founder, CEO & Chief AI Scientist at Integral AI
- **Organizations:** Integral AI, Google (Google Research / Google AI)
- **From:** Lebanon
- **Nationality:** Lebanese
- **Education:** PhD in Computer Science & AI (brain-inspired theories of intelligence), University of Florida, MS in Quantum Computing, University of Florida, Computer Science (undergraduate studies), University of Waterloo, Computer Engineering, American University of Beirut
- **Known for:** Founded and led Google's first generative AI team, Founded Integral AI and built it across Tokyo and Silicon Valley, Announced TOWA, billed as the world's first AGI-capable model (December 2025)

## Career timeline

- **2012** — Completed PhD at the University of Florida focused on brain-inspired, mathematically rigorous theories of intelligence
- **2012-2021** — Spent nearly a decade at Google, founding and leading its first generative AI team and researching learning from limited data
- **2021** — Co-founded Integral AI, basing it in Tokyo to leverage Japan's robotics strength, with a Silicon Valley office
- **2023** — Raised a seed round; began publishing the Freedom Series and appearing widely as an AGI thought leader
- **2024** — Featured on Singularity.FM and in Business Insider and Asahi Shimbun discussing the path to AGI and Japan's robotics edge
- **2025-12** — Unveiled TOWA, claimed by Integral AI as the world's first AGI-capable model, drawing global coverage and expert skepticism

## Achievements

- Founded and led Google's first generative AI team
- Founded Integral AI and built it across Tokyo and Silicon Valley
- Announced TOWA, billed as the world's first AGI-capable model (December 2025)
- Author of the four-volume Freedom Series, beginning with 'The Rise of Superintelligence'
- Pioneer of neocortex-inspired and limited-data generative AI research

## Latest updates

- **2025-12** — Integral AI unveiled TOWA, claimed as the world's first AGI-capable model; Tarifi made the rounds defending the claim amid widespread expert skepticism.
- **2024-12** — Appeared on Singularity.FM arguing humanity now has all the ingredients for AGI.

## Links

- Website: https://integral.ai
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jad-tarifi/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/jad-tarifi
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-06-24