Board

Rika Nakazawa

I am deeply honored to be considered for the board of this groundbreaking venture dedicated to open-source AI research and development, and democratizing artificial intelligence through creating Personal AI. My passion for AI is rooted in its transformative potential to advance sustainable economic development, promote equity, and enhance diversity - particularly within STEM education and training across industry sectors. I believe that AI, when developed inclusively and transparently, can serve as a powerful equalizer and catalyst for positive societal and economic impact.

Throughout my global career, I have been privileged to engage first-hand in the convergence of industry, technology, and policy and how they shape our collective futures and development as sentient intelligence. My diverse experiences across geographies and sectors have given me a multi-faceted perspective on how AI can be harnessed for commercial success today, and create foundations for a more sustainable tomorrow.

In serving on this board, my goal would be to contribute actionable insights towards strategically aligning AI innovation with the foundations of industry and community development, while fostering collaboration across industry sectors, technology ventures, and policy frameworks. Together, I believe we can build an AI ecosystem that empowers individuals, drives sustainable progress, and opens up new avenues of opportunity for communities and economies globally.

Thank you for considering my candidacy. I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to this exciting and impactful endeavor with the incredible talent and team at Kwaai.

Sam Johnston

As the lead developer of the Personal Artificial Intelligence Operating System (pAI-OS), I am committed to democratizing AI by providing individuals and experts with the Open Source tools to create customizable AI assistants and agents. With a strong background in cloud computing, emerging technologies, and Open Source development, I have been an active advocate for Open Source AI, recently engaging with the Open Source Initiative (OSI) on Kwaai's behalf on critical issues related to the Open Source AI Definition (OSAID). My goal is to ensure that pAI-OS upholds the values of openness and accessibility while fostering a vibrant community of users and developers. Your support will enable us to drive forward innovation in personal AI with transparency and collaboration at its core.

Larry Namer


Having over 50 year’s experience in the media business on a global scale (having created content that is in over 140 countries) and turned out success stories like Howard Stern, Kardashians and more I think that my experience and global perspective make me an ideal candidate for the board of Kwaai. Some things that we don’t make very public are the fact that I was primary consultant to Bill Gates and Microsoft for interactive content strategy and then performed the same consulting services for Paul Allens companies. In summary a proven creative on the global stage who learned about technology from some of the innovators in the tech space, who just happens to have a degree in economics.


Ruth Rassool

Thank you for the opportunity to continue the work of the Kwaai Board. I have served as the education advisor during Kwaai’s first year, and I have been amazed at the growth that has been achieved in that short time. This inaugural board is a diverse body of talented individuals who all believe in the ethos of democratizing AI; I believe that is the strength of Kwaai. That spirit of collaboration extends throughout the Kwaai community. I look forward to Kwaai day as the highlight of my week. I have also been able to bring the Kwaai development to my college campus. Through the Beta program, I have shared my own Virtual Teacher’s Assistant with my colleagues and my students. Together, we are refining the content that informs “Penny”, and I continue to bring that knowledge back to Kwaai. We are easing some of the burden and anxiety that students face and brainstorming with faculty to maintain the equity and integrity of the resources that Kwaai provides. I look forward to continuing Kwaai’s mission at other educational institutions, where we can release the potential that is still untapped.

Younes Aatif


I am honored to run for a board position at Kwaai, where I have proudly served on the inaugural board and led the first dedicated team to develop Kwaai’s Personal AI (PAI). My focus has been on aligning ArkusNexus’ resources—an organization with over two decades of software development experience—with Kwaai’s mission, ensuring we have the means to achieve our ambitious goals. With 25 years of operational experience across multiple sectors, I specialize in translating vision into practical, effective software solutions that drive real impact. This extensive background enables me to contribute meaningfully to Kwaai’s mission, ensuring our AI initiatives are both strategically sound and operationally successful.


I am deeply committed to advancing Kwaai’s goal of democratizing AI by empowering individuals with secure, self-sovereign technology. My role as a board member will continue to focus on fostering innovation while ensuring Kwaai’s efforts remain aligned with its core mission of personal empowerment through AI.

Ted Cohen


I have been working in digital entertainment for over 40 years for both creators and rights holders. Over the past 20 years I have been very involved in algorithmic-based/AI search and personalization tools, working with companies such as Spotify, Pandora, EchoNest and Microsoft. I am a centrist when it comes to new technologies and new paradigms. I can pragmatically assess both the advantages and the potential for collateral damage. Generative AI, the next 'mountain', is currently creating new challenges that need to be understood and addressed. At every technological inflection point, we are faced with an opportunity to evolve and enhance our methodologies. I help the companies and partners that I work with to maximize that potential and minimize the chaos. I believe that I can add significant value to Kwaai's efforts to establish an open source ecosystem that will level the playing field and better prepare developers and creators for the possibilities.