Leyla Sellam

Moroccan AI innovator creating ethical facial recognition systems for underrepresented communities

Leyla Sellam (born 1980) is a Moroccan-French AI researcher and entrepreneur pioneering inclusive technology solutions. As founder of Faception AI, she developed the first facial recognition system designed to avoid racial biases, addressing critical gaps in existing algorithms. Her work gained global attention after the 2020 MIT Technology Review named her one of '35 Innovators Under 35'. Sellam's academic career includes groundbreaking research at École Polytechnique on machine learning ethics, leading to partnerships with UNICEF for child protection projects. She co-authored Inclusive AI: Building Systems for Global Populations which became required reading at African tech universities. Sellam's TED Talk 'The Face of AI Equity' has over 2 million views. In 2022, she launched the Africa AI Ethics Lab (AfricaAIEthics.org), training 500+ developers across 15 countries. Her innovations are now deployed in Senegal's healthcare system and Kenya's education platforms, demonstrating measurable improvements in service delivery.