Muhammad Salman M. Khair

Muhammad Salman M. Khair is a Behavioral Science Project Manager at the Center for Utilizing Behavioral Insights for Children (CUBIC), where he has been designing and evaluating behavioral science solutions to improve outcomes for families and children across the MENA and Asia-Pacific regions since 2021. His 13 years of experience in applying diverse methods and mindsets to understand and change human behavior across the public, private, and people sectors includes his role as a Senior Research Associate at WISE, where he managed research on education innovation.

Salman has applied behavioral insights in generative AI, education, child rights and protection, population health and wellbeing, and gamification. He leads a GenAI adoption program that uses behavioral science to explore how AI functions and to build adaptive skills that evolve alongside AI capabilities. He also co-designs the world’s first specialized behavioral insights cards with early childhood development experts, turning system bottlenecks into actionable solutions. Recently, he managed a series of behaviorally informed activities that significantly improved rural Afghan caregivers’ perception of the importance of girls completing primary school.

Repeatedly drawn to the crucial role of the heart in decision-making and behavior change, Salman approaches his work through the framework of AIBICIDI (artificial intelligence, behavioral insights, cultural insights, and deen Islam [Islamic faith])—focusing on the most pressing challenges and opportunities to keep humans at the center when shaping both human and AI behavior for good. He holds an M.Ed. in Special Education from Qatar University, a B.A. in Psychology from NUS, and a Diploma in AI Theory, Philosophy, and Development from Blogging Theology Academy.