Ahmad Shadid

Founder and CEO at O Foundation

Expertise: Artificial intelligence

Ahmad Shadid is the founder of O Foundation, a Swiss-based AI research lab focused on building and researching private AI infrastructure; o.capital, a quant fund trading on Nasdaq; and the founder and former CEO of io.net, currently the largest Solana-based decentralized AI compute infrastructure network.

Shadid is a trailblazing entrepreneur and a serial founder at the intersection of Web3, compute infrastructure and AI, renowned for transforming ambitious ideas into world-changing ecosystems. As the mastermind behind io.net, Ahmad led the company to a stunning $4.5 billion valuation, with its token launched on Binance and Coinbase, successfully transforming the startup into a multibillion-dollar unicorn in under a year. His work was recognized with a gold medal at the 2023 Hong Kong Inventions Asia Awards.

9 Articles

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Ahmad Shadid Ahmad Shadid
Updated on February 13, 2026

The Model War Is Over. AI Progress Now Depends on Physical Infrastructure.

Flashy models may grab headlines, but the infrastructure that powers them is far more important. Our expert explains why.

Image: Shutterstock / Built In
Ahmad Shadid Ahmad Shadid
Updated on November 06, 2025

Reddit Picked a Fight With Perplexity. The Whole Internet’s Watching.

Licensed data is the new frontier in the AI race — and Reddit just drew the battle lines.

Image: Shutterstock / Built In
Ahmad Shadid Ahmad Shadid
Updated on October 08, 2025

Will California’s New AI Law Lead to National Standards — or Chaos?

California’s SB 53 law marks a major step forward in regulating AI, but what effect will it have?

Image: Shutterstock / Built In
Ahmad Shadid Ahmad Shadid
Updated on September 03, 2025

Why Are So Many Companies Selling AI Products to the U.S. Government for $1?

Major players in the space are offering a discount on services for the government as part of a long-term strategy.

Image: Shutterstock / Built In
Ahmad Shadid Ahmad Shadid
Updated on August 21, 2025

Solving the AI ‘Body’ Problem Is Crucial to Unleashing Its Power

Outdated devices limit the transformative potential of AI. We must develop hardware that suits the technology’s form.

Image: Shutterstock / Built In
Ahmad Shadid Ahmad Shadid
Updated on July 18, 2025

Master This Skill to Flourish in the Age of AI

Nuance, adaptability and judgment will always be areas in which humans outperform machines. That’s why system thinking is the critical new skill for tech workers.

Image: Shutterstock / Built In
Ahmad Shadid Ahmad Shadid
Updated on May 30, 2025

How Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ May Harm AI Development in the US

Having just passed the house, the so-called Big Beautiful Bill is a sweeping piece of legislation. Our expert analyzes how its ban on state-level AI regulation may impact the field.

Image: Shutterstock / Built In
Ahmad Shadid Ahmad Shadid
Updated on April 08, 2025

What Effect Will DOGE Have on U.S. AI Policy?

The Trump administration has undertaken a drastic reshaping of the American government, but will it fuel innovation or stifle it?

Image: Shutterstock / Built In
Ahmad Shadid Ahmad Shadid
Updated on March 17, 2025

How Will Decentralized AI Affect Big Tech?

Decentralized AI promises to democratize the technology. What effect will this have on the broader ecosystem?

Image: Shutterstock / Built In