Neil Zeghidour, a 35-year-old specialist in voice artificial intelligence, has emerged as a leading figure in the next generation of French innovators. He is recognized as one of 50 young individuals under the age of 40 who are developing concrete solutions to make technology more responsible and society more equitable.
Zeghidour currently serves as the director of the startup Gradium and is a founding member of Kyutai, a dedicated artificial intelligence research laboratory.
Academic Foundation and Early Career
Raised in Paris, Zeghidour grew up in a household where academic success was a core family value. His parents include a microbiologist mother and a father, Slimane Zeghidour, who is a journalist for TV5 Monde specializing in the Maghreb and Middle East.
While he initially aspired to follow his father into journalism, Zeghidour pivoted toward mathematics. He pursued studies at the École normale supérieure and Université Dauphine.
His professional trajectory began at Société Générale before he joined the artificial intelligence laboratory at Facebook.
Challenging Global AI Giants
At the Kyutai laboratory, Zeghidour developed a conversational AI named Moshi. He describes the system as having the fastest computer transmission speed in the world, positioning it to challenge offerings from industry giants like Google and OpenAI.
The impact of Moshi has been immediate, recording more than one million downloads per month. Zeghidour notes that the technology has already begun to structure the broader AI ecosystem, with various startups adopting the tool.
Entrepreneurship and Future Ambitions
Beyond research, Zeghidour has found significant success in entrepreneurship through his company, Gradium. In 2025, the firm secured 60 million euros from prestigious French and American investors, marking one of the largest funding rounds of the year.
His overarching ambition is to create an AI capable of real-time conversation that eliminates the need for written input. This system may eventually be able to transcribe oral speech and switch seamlessly between different languages.
Despite his commercial success, Zeghidour remains committed to the original mission of the Kyutai laboratory. He maintains that the lab should remain focused on research rather than the commercialization of its discoveries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Neil Zeghidour?
He is a 35-year-old Franco-Algerian AI researcher, the director of the startup Gradium, and a founding member of the Kyutai research laboratory.
What is Moshi?
Moshi is a conversational AI developed at Kyutai that features extremely high transmission speeds and has seen over one million downloads per month.
How much funding has Gradium raised?
Gradium raised 60 million euros in 2025 from investors in the United States and France.
How do you think the shift toward real-time voice AI will change the way we interact with technology?
