Introduction

University of Michigan graduate in Computer Science. He interned at a B2B SaaS company and currently works at Splunk, soon joining Google to work on distributed API systems. He is the technical co-founder of BackPockitAI. (View the full interview on YouTube)

Personal Journey

• Inspired by an uncle in tech and childhood curiosity (e.g., modifying video games). Studied Computer Science and gained practical experience through internships that made academic concepts click.
• Emphasized that faith is integral to their professional conduct. This includes adhering to Islamic business ethics, avoiding interest (riba), and maintaining practices like not shaking hands with non-mahram colleagues.
• Views work as a form of worship (ibadah) when done with the right intention (fisabilillah).
• One challenge was navigating social norms, such as politely declining handshakes, which can initially be awkward but often leads to respect and curiosity from colleagues.
• The psychological challenge of practicing faith in a secular environment, though they note America offers religious freedoms like prayer rooms and time for Jumu’ah.
• Key turning point was joining the startup has shifted his mindset from “get a job” to being passionate about building and solving real-world problems.

Industry Deep Dive

• Back Pocket AI: They are building an AI solution to automate routine inquiries (e.g., scheduling tours, answering policy questions) for property managers, freeing them to handle complex issues.
• Talha leads all technical development and engineering.
• The property management industry involves significant regulations (e.g., Fair Housing laws) to prevent discrimination. Their AI must be carefully trained to avoid ethical pitfalls related to tenant screening and communication.
• A key ethical concern in AI broadly is its potential misuse (e.g., in military applications like drone software), contrasting with their goal to use it for productivity and improving lives.
• He highlighted the risk of discrimination lawsuits in housing if AI is not properly managed. They avoid automating sensitive negotiations (e.g., pricing, policy violations), keeping a “human in the loop” for those.
• Focus on what is within your individual control. Uphold personal integrity in your work, such as building ethical software and maintaining Islamic principles in interactions.
• Believe in the power of personal example; consistent ethical conduct can serve as a form of dawah and earn respect.

Resources and Advice Segment

• For AI: Start by using tools like ChatGPT to explore ideas and outline projects. The field is new, so hands-on learning is key.
• For general growth: Pick one difficult but good habit to build consistency (e.g., daily nafl prayers).
• Stressed the importance of mentorship they received and now aim to pay it forward. They are open to being contacted on LinkedIn for advice.
• If you have time, just start building. The learning process will reveal opportunities.

Accountability Focus

• Expressed general concern about “big tech” companies involved in ethically questionable projects, such as developing software for military drones, but did not name specific corporations.
• Discussed the moral responsibility of tech workers, noting that Muslims should be in positions of influence to change conversations and refuse to work on harmful projects, even at the cost of personal comfort or pay.
• Muslims need to attain valuable positions within companies where their departure would be impactful, giving them leverage to advocate for ethical practices.
• On an individual level, consistently make ethical choices in your own work (e.g., what projects you accept, how you interact with colleagues).
• Focus on using AI for positive applications that solve genuine human problems and improve productivity, as they are doing with Back Pocket AI.

Closing Reflections

• “In an age of convenience, intentionally pick one good, “inconvenient” habit to build discipline and grow gradually.” Talha Hafeez
• You may contact Talha Hafeez at LinkedIn.
• If you know any property managers or leasing agents who could benefit from Back Pocket AI, please reach out to Affaan on LinkedIn.
• They encouraged listeners to connect with them professionally on LinkedIn for mentorship or conversation.