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  4. Abdullah 'Ax' Ali

Abdullah 'Ax' Ali

Ph.D., '20

Abdullah “Ax” Ali

Dr. Abdullah “Ax” Ali arrived in the United States as a 19-year-old war refugee and worked his way from community college to a Ph.D. in Human-Computer Interaction at the iSchool. Ali took the knowledge he gained from his Ph.D. and his extensive experience working at small startups and tech companies including Apple, Microsoft and Amazon to co-found  with his wife and fellow UW alum, Paige Collins. 

The mission of 3rd Brain is to disrupt the traditional household in typical domestic tasks.  As a couple’s organizer, the platform uses a Generative AI technology, affectionately named Bo the Brain, to empower couples to work together. Bo helps manage tasks and events and allows couples to share notes about their lives in one intelligent space. In outsourcing life’s thoughts to a Bo, couples may be able to reduce daily stresses.

At the iSchool, Ali said, his ideas were transformed into reality through determination, perseverance and the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded people. While working in the technology industry, he thought back often of the time he spent studying at the iSchool and the inspiration to go after big ideas, and he said that’s what motivated him to launch a startup with others who shared his vision of a more equitable harmonious home life. 

News

A graduate smiles as she approaches the stage to receive her degree.

Convocation celebrates iSchool's largest class of graduates

Friday, June 13, 2025
More than 700 graduates crossed the stage to be recognized at the University of Washington Information School’s 2025 Convocation ceremony on June 7 at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.It was the iSchool’s largest class yet, honoring graduates of...
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Student presents their project

Annual iSchool Showcase celebrates student achievements

Wednesday, June 11, 2025
The Information School gathered on June 4 to celebrate student milestones from the academic year with more than 100 projects on display at the 2025 iSchool Showcase. Students from all five iSchool degree programs had the opportunity to...
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Events

Jun 28
 
3:00-5:00PM

iSchool Alumni Social at ALA Conference 2025

Pennsylvania Convention Center
Jul 9
 
7:00-7:45PM

iSchool Read-Alongs Series: July

Online
Aug 5
 
8:30-9:30AM

MSIM Conversation with Professor Sara Sanford - Career Outcomes

Zoom / Online
Aug 7
 
7:00-7:45PM

iSchool Read-Alongs Series: August

Online
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