Title: Director of Machine Learning, Vision AI and Innovation
Company: W.W. Grainger, Inc.
Location: IL/USA
Education: Postdoctoral Research, University of Nevada-Las Vegas (2016); PhD in Computer Science, FIS and University of Nevada-Las Vegas (2015); PhD in Artificial Intelligence and Computer Vision, Université Badji Mokhtar de Annaba (Badji Mokhtar Annaba University), Algeria, With Highest Honors (2014); Master’s Degree in Artificial Intelligence, Université Badji Mokhtar de Annaba (Badji Mokhtar Annaba University), Algeria (2010); BS in Mathematics and Computer Science, Université Badji Mokhtar de Annaba (Badji Mokhtar Annaba University), Algeria (2008)
Career History: Director, Machine Learning, W. W. Grainger, Inc., Chicago, IL (2023-Present); Senior Principal Data Scientist, Artificial Intelligence Lead, W. W. Grainger, Inc., Chicago, IL (2020-2023); Principal Data Scientist, Artificial Intelligence Lead, W. W. Grainger, Inc., Chicago, IL (2018-2020); Senior Data Scientist, W. W. Grainger, Inc., Chicago, IL (2016-2018); Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Nevada-Las Vegas (2015-2016); Co-founder, Robotics and Intelligent Computing Startup (2014)
Fouad Bousetouane, PhD, Director of Machine Learning, Vision AI, and Innovation at W. W. Grainger, Inc., has been recognized as a Marquis Emerging Leader for their contributions and achievements in the field of science.
Guided by an insatiable curiosity and a profound fascination with the functions of the brain, Dr. Bousetouane has excelled as a leader of innovation, with a focus on generative AI and multimodal machine learning, at W. W. Grainger, Inc. since 2023, but has been building a career at the Chicago-based company since 2016. He started there as a senior data scientist before advancing to a principal data scientist and AI lead; from 2020 up until his current promotion, he served as senior principal data scientist. Over this past decade, in addition to establishing himself at Grainger, he has published more than 40 research and technical papers on the topics of machine learning, generative AI, and cognitive vision, as well as contributed to more than 25 patents and trade secrets within these fields.
Dr. Bousetouane’s overall mission with every project and collaboration is to drive innovation and advance the field of AI, aiming to foster a culture of ethical, responsible, and conscientious practices with the technology. Most notably, he has developed numerous innovative solutions, such as visual search, enabling users to efficiently identify and locate complex products through highly advanced image recognition systems. This groundbreaking work garnered significant media attention and earned him a series of prestigious accolades, including Best Innovation of the Year from Dubai’s Artificial Intelligence Journalism for Research and Forecasting (AIJRF) in 2021, as well as Tech in Motion’s 2020 Timmy Award for Best Tech Manager in Chicago. He was also recognized among the “Top 30 AI Scientists” in MIT Tech Review Arabia and has been featured in media outlets such as Sky News, offering him platforms to share knowledge and perspectives. He frequently speaks at tech conferences and participates as a panelist at AI events.
Outside of his primary endeavors, Dr. Bousetouane, an Algerian-American, was recently appointed as a member of the Supreme Council of Artificial Intelligence in Algeria; his advisory role shapes the governance model for the entire nation. He also dedicates time and energy to mentoring several students and coaching a team of artificial intelligence students. He actively volunteers to organize workshops and conferences centered on AI and participates in meetup groups dedicated to discussing the future of this technology and its societal impact. He is currently writing a book focusing on the responsible use of AI in enterprise settings, reflecting his eagerness to contribute meaningfully to this crucial area.
Dr. Bousetouane earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics and computer science from Badji Mokhtar Annaba University and while pursuing his master’s degree in artificial intelligence and pattern recognition there, he delved into research on satellite imaging, object detection, and target localization utilizing hyperspectral images. Furthermore, he dedicated efforts to pioneering work in medical imaging, devising a sophisticated system capable of detecting cancer and monitoring its progression through the analysis of three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging scans. He ultimately attained his MS and a PhD in artificial intelligence and computer vision and subsequently completed postdoctoral research at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. His research was funded by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and centered on deep learning with a particular focus on its applications in computer vision and security domains.
Looking toward the future, Dr. Bousetouane strives to embark on a new journey as a faculty member at the prestigious University of Chicago. He wants to play a strategic role in influencing the trajectory of AI on a broader scale and ensure a co-existence between humans and technology. He is extremely proud of his five-year-old son, who he says already “demonstrates remarkable intelligence, particularly in areas such as science and prehistoric events.” He envisions a future where his son becomes a scientist, carrying forward his legacy and contributing to the advancement of his field.