Meet the 22-Year-Old Who Built an AI Search Engine to Take on the Giants

Meet the 22-Year-Old Who Built an AI Search Engine to Take on the Giants

So, picture this: a 22-year-old developer sitting in a small room in Mumbai, tapping away at his keyboard, fueled by a mix of coffee and ambition. That’s Zaid Mukaddam, and he’s not just any developer—he's the mastermind behind Scria AI, an AI-powered search engine that’s making waves in a sea dominated by tech giants with deep pockets. And guess what? He’s done it all without a dime of external funding.

Now, let’s rewind a bit. It all started in August 2024 when Zaid, a self-taught programmer and ethical hacker, decided he was fed up with the existing search tools. They felt bloated and, let’s be real, a bit overpriced. He wanted something simpler, something that didn’t come with a hefty price tag for features that should be standard. So, he rolled up his sleeves and got to work on what he initially called 'MiniPerplx'.

But wait, here’s the kicker: he posted about it on X (formerly Twitter), and it went viral. Suddenly, people were interested. Like, really interested. Within no time, his GitHub repository was buzzing, racking up over 8,400 stars. That’s like getting a standing ovation from the programming community.

Zaid’s journey into coding started at 18, and he’s been a sponge for knowledge ever since. He learned through online resources, diving into web technologies with the kind of passion most of us reserve for our favorite Netflix series. And now, he’s built a platform that’s not just functional but also user-friendly.

The Tech Behind Scria AI

So, what’s the secret sauce behind Scria AI? Well, Zaid chose to use the Vercel AI SDK, a TypeScript toolkit that makes integrating large language models into applications a breeze. Imagine trying to bake a cake but getting stuck on how to mix the batter—this toolkit is like having a professional chef guiding you through the kitchen. It allowed Zaid to focus on creating a smooth user experience instead of getting tangled up in the technical weeds.

For the actual search capabilities, Scria AI uses the Tavily Search API, which is like having a super-smart librarian who not only finds the books you need but also gives you the exact pages where the information is. This means that when you search for something, you’re not just getting a bunch of links; you’re getting real-time, accurate results with citations. And let’s be honest, in a world where misinformation runs rampant, that’s a huge deal.

But here’s where it gets intense: one night, Zaid saw his user base explode from 500 to 16,000 overnight. That’s like throwing a party and having a thousand unexpected guests show up. The surge in traffic nearly forced him to shut down the project because of rising API costs. Just when it seemed like it was all over, Groq, an AI hardware company, swooped in to save the day. They provided the necessary infrastructure, and with the help of Alibaba’s Qwen AI models, Scria AI could scale up without breaking the bank.

The Power of Open Source

One of the coolest things about Scria AI is its open-source nature. Zaid made the code available on GitHub, which means anyone can peek under the hood, contribute, or even build on it. It’s like inviting everyone to join in on a group project rather than keeping it all to yourself. This transparency builds trust and creates a community around the project. The name 'Scria' comes from the Latin word for 'to know', and that’s exactly what Zaid aims for—making information accessible to everyone.

Scria isn’t just about standard web searches either. It can pull information from social media platforms like X and Reddit, and even perform code-related analyses. This versatility sets it apart from its bigger, more commercial competitors. While Perplexity AI has a Pro version with fancy features, Scria is all about providing robust capabilities for free.

Looking Ahead

The majority of Scria’s users are in India, which shows that there’s a real appetite for homegrown tech solutions. As Zaid continues to grow this platform, it’s becoming a case study in how a solo developer can challenge the status quo. It’s proof that you don’t need millions in funding to make an impact; sometimes, all you need is a clear vision, a supportive community, and a relentless drive to solve a problem.

So, next time you think about the tech giants, remember Zaid Mukaddam and Scria AI. This story isn’t just about a search engine; it’s about the democratization of technology and the power of innovation that comes from the ground up. Who knows? Maybe the next big thing in AI is just a coffee-fueled coding session away.