Profile

Dr. Zunaid Kazi

CEO · Knowtomation

Dr. Zunaid Kazi is one of Bangladesh's earliest pioneers in artificial intelligence and a globally experienced CEO, technologist, and entrepreneur with more than three decades of work spanning AI, NLP, and large-scale intelligent systems. With a PhD in Artificial Intelligence earned at a time when the field was still nascent globally and virtually unknown in Bangladesh, he began his career as faculty at BUET—teaching in one of the university's first computer science cohorts—before joining IBM's renowned Watson Research Center, where he worked on frontier AI and large-scale intelligent systems. He has since built a unique career at the intersection of deep research, product innovation, and enterprise-scale engineering. As the founder and CEO of Knowtomation, he has launched and led technology ventures delivering advanced AI solutions across the United States and internationally, transforming cutting-edge research into successful commercial products. His experience includes architecting large-scale NLP systems, pioneering name-disambiguation technologies, building data-driven healthcare and analytics platforms, and leading global software initiatives from concept to multi-million-dollar deployment. A published author and patent holder, Dr. Kazi is recognized for his contributions to AI and NLP, as well as his thought leadership on AI strategy, responsible innovation, and Bangladesh's position in the global technology landscape.

Alongside his technical and entrepreneurial leadership, Dr. Kazi is a prominent voice on AI, society, and Bangladesh's future—publishing influential op-eds in the Dhaka Tribune and long-form essays on Medium that explore AI's implications for governance, development, and national strategy. His writing bridges global technological shifts with Bangladesh's socioeconomic realities, making him a recognized thought leader on how AI can shape the country's trajectory. As a volunteer member of the MillionX Founding Council, he brings together his academic roots, global AI experience, and national commitment to help build an ecosystem capable of nurturing a million 10x minds. He sees MillionX as a generational opportunity to elevate Bangladesh's talent, strengthen its institutions, and position the country for meaningful participation in the AI-powered global economy.