This first-person account is adapted from an extended conversation with Jad Tarifi, the founder and chief executive officer of the artificial intelligence startup Integral AI. The narrative that follows has been carefully edited to ensure both clarity and conciseness, while Business Insider has independently confirmed Tarifi’s credentials, including his educational accomplishments and professional background.
When I completed my doctoral studies in Artificial Intelligence at the University of Florida in 2012, launching my own company was not the trajectory I initially envisioned. At that time—and even now—my overarching ambition has remained consistent: to apply the transformative capabilities of AI in ways that yield a tangible, positive influence on the world. This guiding purpose first led me to Google’s renowned research environment, where I spent nearly ten years refining my skills and exploring the frontiers of machine learning and computational innovation.
My time at Google represented a formative period of professional and intellectual growth. During those years, the company stood at the epicenter of some of the most groundbreaking developments in modern AI, such as the invention and optimization of the transformer architecture—an advance that has since revolutionized natural language processing and machine perception. Immersed in that ecosystem of innovation, I was surrounded by some of the most talented engineers and researchers in the world, which provided a deep reservoir of knowledge and inspiration to draw from.
From this experience emerged much of my leadership philosophy. Observing Google’s internal culture taught me that empowering engineers requires more than delegating tasks—it demands empathy, trust, and the cultivation of an environment where creative thinking can flourish without fear of judgment. At Integral AI, I strive to replicate this ethos by leading with compassion, encouraging open dialogue, and ensuring that every member of the team feels secure enough to contribute bold ideas and candid opinions.
However, it also became clear that Google’s business orientation was strongly tied to its advertising-driven revenue model. While this structure has made the company immensely successful, it can be constraining for those who wish to pursue ideas that lie outside its commercial focus—such as building a personal artificial general intelligence (AGI) system or advancing robotics beyond the scope of ad-based monetization. I gradually realized that to fully explore my passion for robotics and autonomous systems, I would need to forge my own path—one that permitted rapid experimentation, calculated risk-taking, and agile adaptation, free from the limitations that often accompany large corporate frameworks.
As this awareness took root, I began planning a transition that would let me align my career more closely with those ambitions. In my final year at Google, I convinced my manager to support my transfer to the company’s Tokyo office—a move that materialized in 2020. Spending that year in Japan proved to be a pivotal experience, both personally and professionally, just before I decided to leave Google altogether and launch Integral AI the following year.
My decision to move to Japan was not arbitrary. It stemmed directly from a long-standing fascination with bringing AI and robotics together in a meaningful way. Having spent a substantial portion of my career in Silicon Valley, I had witnessed the United States maintain its undisputed leadership in artificial intelligence research. Yet, despite its dominance in software and machine learning innovation, the U.S. has historically been less prominent in robotics—a disparity partly attributable to its tendency to outsource much of its manufacturing and industrial production to other regions.
Japan, conversely, represents the global epicenter of robotics expertise. The country produces the majority of the world’s industrial robots and has cultivated a sophisticated ecosystem encompassing suppliers, component manufacturers, system integrators, and commercial clients. Relocating to Tokyo enabled me to merge the AI innovation culture of Silicon Valley with Japan’s advanced robotics infrastructure, effectively combining two worlds that, when integrated, hold immense technological potential.
While in Japan, I immersed myself deeply in this ecosystem, learning not only about the technical landscape but also about the intricate relationships among industry participants. Understanding this network is essential for any company aspiring to design products that genuinely address the needs of the Japanese market. I was fortunate to be able to use my final year at Google as an introduction to this community, simultaneously dedicating time to understanding the language and culture. To accelerate my fluency in Japanese, I deliberately placed myself in challenging, real-world situations—forcing myself to converse with locals and step beyond my linguistic comfort zone. Over time, this approach allowed me to communicate naturally with people I met every day, enriching my experience substantially.
After departing from Google, I officially founded Integral AI in 2021. The company’s primary mission is to develop advanced AI systems capable of controlling both robots and autonomous vehicles, enhancing their efficiency, adaptability, and decision-making processes.
Operating a technology startup in Japan comes with distinct advantages and challenges. One of the first realities I encountered was the rigidity of Japan’s administrative systems. The country’s procedural formalities can feel traditional and, at times, inflexible—illustrated by the continued reliance on personal seals, or “hanko,” for signing documents. Even seemingly simple steps, such as opening a business bank account, can become prolonged undertakings. Despite having a Japanese investor involved, it still took me three months to open a corporate account—a process that, in the United States, might have been completed in less than an hour. Yet, I perceived these bureaucratic hurdles not as prohibitive obstacles but as part of the cost of entry to a dynamic and well-established robotics industry.
In return for navigating these procedural complexities, Japan rewarded me with unparalleled access to its vast robotics sector. Operating within this environment has provided critical insights into how we should design and position our products to capitalize on the existing infrastructure and meet the expectations of diverse stakeholders. Moreover, my experience in Japan revealed a valuable contrast in the philosophy of technological development between East and West. In the United States, particularly in fast-paced hubs like Silicon Valley, the prevailing doctrine encourages rapid prototyping under the banner of “move fast and break things.” This mentality fosters bold experimentation but can also lead to unsustainable practices. Japan’s work culture, by contrast, emphasizes incremental progress and precision. Problems are addressed through meticulous, step-by-step refinement—a process that, although slower, often results in more resilient and carefully engineered outcomes.
Through living and working in Japan, I came to appreciate the harmony of combining these two perspectives: the ambitious speed and scale of American innovation with the measured discipline of Japanese craftsmanship. For aspiring technologists, Silicon Valley remains the optimal destination for those seeking swift career acceleration and exposure to high-intensity innovation, even though its environment tends to be more individualistic and productivity-driven. Conversely, Japan offers a distinct appeal for those who value collective well-being, community, and balance between work and life. Ultimately, building a Silicon Valley–style technology company within Japan allows one to draw from the strengths of both global paradigms—embracing the audacity of Western entrepreneurship while embodying the precision and cultural depth of the East. In that sense, it truly is possible to enjoy the best of both worlds.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/quit-job-google-launch-ai-startup-tokyo-2025-11
