Young Saudi founder connects artificial intelligence and human psychology

Al Khobar — Saudi Arabia’s expanding technology ecosystem continues to open space for young innovators who merge scientific research with local cultural understanding.

Among this new generation is 23-year-old Ahmed Al-Malki, founder of Minus Zero and lead researcher at NeuroVate Lab, whose work seeks to integrate artificial intelligence with psychology to support progress in education, talent development, and data-driven decision-making across the Kingdom.

Al-Malki created Minus Zero as a platform that analyzes language using AI to identify cognitive tendencies and emotional indicators. By bringing together psychology, linguistics, and data science, the system transforms written text into measurable insights that can reflect how individuals think, communicate, and process information.

He explains that the idea began with a simple goal — to create a tool capable of understanding human thought patterns in both Arabic and English, offering a bilingual model that reflects regional language and cultural nuance more accurately than imported systems traditionally used in assessments.

The platform originally started as a company research project but later grew into a broader initiative inspired by the BEGINING Scale, a psychological model developed by academic Dr. Ibrahim Al-Hussein. The aim was to translate conceptual traits such as creativity, balance, and decision-making into practical, data-driven measurements.

With a background in computer science, Al-Malki became interested in how linguistic choices reveal patterns of thought. Word selection, sentence structure, and written expression can provide subtle indicators of cognitive style, and this concept formed the foundation of the analytical approach used by Minus Zero.

Through the system, ordinary writing samples — such as student essays or professional reports — can be evaluated and presented in formats that may support education, recruitment, and performance development. Educators gain clearer insights into how students learn, while employers can identify strengths in communication, analysis, and problem-solving.

Al-Malki also noted a significant gap in the local market, as many widely used psychometric tools were developed abroad and rely heavily on English-language datasets that do not fully capture Arab cultural or linguistic contexts. Minus Zero attempts to address this shortage by offering an assessment model developed specifically to accommodate regional language patterns.

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into national strategies under Vision 2030, privacy and fairness remain major considerations. To support these priorities, the platform uses federated learning — a decentralized method that trains algorithms on encrypted data without transferring personal information, ensuring that user privacy is maintained throughout the process.

Al-Malki emphasizes that transparency and ethical data use are central to the project, noting that balanced datasets were used to minimize bias and to create fair, reliable outcomes for users across diverse backgrounds. The intention, he says, is to build AI systems that empower individuals rather than exploit their data.

Behind the development of Minus Zero is NeuroVate Lab, a division Al-Malki established within the Saudi tech company GCAD to connect cognitive science research with applied artificial intelligence. The lab aims to convert academic theories into practical tools for sectors including education, HR, and behavioral analytics.

NeuroVate Lab is currently testing pilot programs in schools and companies to explore tools that measure creativity, stress management, focus, and decision-making. Educators use the insights to adapt teaching methods, while organizations apply them to strengthen leadership, teamwork, and workplace communication.

Al-Malki observes that participants often begin with limited expectations, but once their data is visualized, they recognize how closely the patterns reflect real aspects of their mindset, balance, and emotional state. This reaction reinforces the potential of AI-driven psychological insights to support self-awareness and personal development.

His long-term vision is to expand the use of cognitive AI tools across Saudi educational and employment systems, enabling individuals to maintain dynamic profiles that grow as their skills and behaviors evolve. According to Al-Malki, such tools could help identify creative thinkers, future leaders, and emerging talent from an early stage.

As Saudi Arabia continues to invest in innovation and future-ready skills, young researchers like Al-Malki illustrate the critical role local talent plays in shaping the Kingdom’s technological landscape. Through initiatives that blend AI with cultural and linguistic relevance, these efforts contribute not only to new digital tools but also to ideas that reflect the region’s identity and aspirations.