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Jad is the co-founder of koodos labs, a products and research company that focuses on the next generation of the Internet and the creators of Shelf.

In addition, Jad is an Affiliate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. His research focuses on the evolution of internet platforms and inverting the internet's personal data model to place individuals in control of their digital identities. He experiments with novel platform design patterns, contributes to regulatory frameworks, and studies the implications of explicit consent and user-provisioned access to data. This includes the role of personal data on the health of artificial intelligence and potential futures for incentive-aligned business models.

As an active contributor to discussions on emerging technologies, including AI and decentralized technologies, and their influence on platform design, business, and culture, Jad has bylines and features in the Harvard Business Review, Wired, Quartz, A16Z Future, and others. He has been invited to speak at places like the UN, Harvard, UPenn, and Round. He also contributes to working groups at the W3C and IAPP, and advises and invests in various technology startups.

Previously, Jad was at Google and YouTube, where he contributed to numerous initiatives during his tenure. He worked on expanding the creator ecosystem in several emerging markets, a host of experimental creator-focused features, and efforts to build trust amidst the advertiser revolt on the platform.

Before Google and YouTube, Jad trained as an engineer, earning both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Engineering from the University of Cambridge. He also holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, where he was a Sainsbury Management Fellow and led both the Entrepreneurship Club and the Improv Club.


Community

koodos labs

Reflections from the Berkman Klein Center's 25th Anniversary

BKC Affiliate Jad Esber offers reflections on BKC’s 25th anniversary reunion event.

Sep 16, 2023
SSRN

Toward A More Cooperative Web3

"A group of researchers, builders and activists came together to discuss platform cooperativism and the intersection with the web3 movement. We touched on some of the key…

Dec 27, 2022
Harvard Business Review

Why Build in Web3

Jad Esber writes about how the Web3 model can change how digital companies operate and handle data.…

May 16, 2022
Future

Decentralized Identity: Your Reputation Travels With You

Jad Esber and a colleague explore reputation systems in web3.

Nov 18, 2021
Future

A Novel Framework for Reputation-Based Systems

Jad Esber and Scott Kominers offer a framework for designing reputation-based systems to encourage quality contributions and participation on platforms.

Sep 30, 2021
BKC Medium Collection

What we can learn from early online platforms

Berkman Klein event explores the early years of online platforms, the state of current platforms, and the future

Mar 25, 2021
BKC Medium Collection

Provocations for a better Internet

Jad Esber shares a curated set of provocations focused on why the internet is broken and what needs to change.

Feb 23, 2021

Events

May 17, 2022 @ 10:00 AM

Living by Protocol

presented by metaLAB (at) Harvard & FU Berlin

May 17-July 3. Living by Protocol queries the reflections of artists on, with, and by social media. The nine grid structured monitors within Harvard Art Museums' Lightbox Gallery…

Mar 16, 2021 @ 12:00 PM

Hindsight is 2020

Video & Podcast: Learning From our Past to Build a Better Future

Video & Podcast: A discussion on what today's builders should consider in the next iteration of the web.