By Ayoub Zinani

September 1, 2026

Sometimes you have to ask before you know whether the answer will be yes or no.

That is exactly what I decided to do.

I recently contacted NVIDIA and HUMAIN to ask whether they could support me with suitable hardware for my AI development work. I’m not claiming they promised me anything. I’m not claiming I will receive a laptop.

Right now, I’m simply waiting.

And honestly, that is what makes this experiment interesting.

Why I contacted NVIDIA and HUMAIN

AI development is becoming increasingly demanding.

You can build a surprising amount with cloud tools, APIs, online AI platforms, and a normal laptop. I have done exactly that while building and experimenting with my own projects.

But eventually you hit a wall.

You want to run more powerful models locally. You want to experiment with AI agents. You want to test automation. You want to build applications without constantly worrying about whether your computer can handle the workload.

That is where better hardware starts to matter.

My goal isn't simply to own an expensive laptop.

I want a machine that becomes a development tool.

I want to use it to build AI projects, experiment with agents, test new technologies, create educational content, and continue developing FikraGo.

You can see my platform here:

FikraGo: https://www.fikrago.com/

And my professional background here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayoub-zinani-7b7854246/

Why HUMAIN caught my attention

HUMAIN is particularly interesting because it is not simply another company selling conventional laptops.

The Saudi AI company introduced the HUMAIN Horizon Pro, an AI-focused PC powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite platform.

HUMAIN describes the computer as being designed around agentic AI, with its HUMAIN ONE operating system intended to bring AI applications, workflows and communication together through an adaptive interface.

The specifications are also aimed at demanding users: the official Horizon Pro page lists 32 GB of RAM, 1 TB SSD storage, an OLED display and up to 18 hours of battery life.

But what interests me most isn't the specification sheet.

It is the idea behind the machine.

The computer is supposed to become more than a box where you open Chrome, VS Code and a few applications.

It is supposed to become an AI-powered workspace.

HUMAIN describes two AI modes: an offline mode where processing can happen on the device, and a hybrid mode combining the PC with cloud intelligence for more demanding tasks.

That is exactly the kind of environment I would like to experiment with.

There is an even more interesting reason I contacted HUMAIN

When HUMAIN announced the Horizon Pro in September 2025, the company said it would distribute 500 Horizon Pro PCs to students as part of its launch initiative.

That caught my attention.

It showed that HUMAIN was thinking about access to AI hardware, education and the next generation of AI developers.

So instead of wondering whether I should contact them, I decided to actually send the message.

Maybe the answer will be no.

Maybe they have a program I don't know about.

Maybe they will forward my request to another team.

Or maybe there is an opportunity I haven't considered.

The only way to find out was to ask.

I also contacted NVIDIA

NVIDIA is another obvious company to contact when you're serious about AI development.

Its hardware and software ecosystem has become deeply connected with modern AI development, from GPUs and CUDA to AI development tools and accelerated computing.

My request to NVIDIA isn't simply:

“Can you give me a free laptop?”

That would be a weak request.

Instead, I explained what I'm building and asked whether NVIDIA has a developer, creator, startup, community or hardware-support program that could help me access suitable AI development hardware.

That distinction matters.

I'm not asking for a luxury product just because it looks impressive.

I'm asking whether there is a legitimate way for an independent developer to receive support while building real projects.

What would I actually do with the laptop?

This is probably the most important question.

If I receive support, I don't want the laptop sitting on a desk as a trophy.

I want to use it.

My plans would include:

1. AI agents

I want to experiment with AI agents that can perform multi-step tasks instead of simply answering questions.

That means testing different models, tools, workflows and automation systems.

2. Local AI

Running AI locally is interesting because it gives developers more control over privacy, speed and experimentation.

A capable AI machine would allow me to explore what can realistically be done without sending every task to a cloud service.

3. FikraGo

FikraGo is one of the main projects I want to continue developing.

My goal is to build useful digital products and publish practical technology content rather than simply talking about AI.

The hardware would therefore become part of the experimentation process behind the content.

4. AI-powered websites

I want to continue building websites and applications that integrate AI into real workflows.

That includes automation, AI assistants, content tools and other experiments.

5. Sharing the results

This is important to me.

If a company supports me, I want to document what I actually build with the equipment.

I can share the experiments, lessons, problems and results through FikraGo and LinkedIn.

That creates something more valuable than simply receiving a laptop.

It creates a public record of what an independent developer can accomplish with access to modern AI hardware.

But there is a catch

There is absolutely no guarantee that either company will say yes.

And I want to be very clear about that.

Sending an email to a large technology company doesn't mean you're automatically going to receive expensive hardware.

Companies have budgets, eligibility requirements, partnerships and internal programs.

They may not support individual requests at all.

They may respond with a link to an existing program.

They may say no.

They may not respond.

All of those outcomes are possible.

But waiting for the perfect opportunity without ever asking guarantees one thing:

nothing happens.

So I decided that sending the email was worth the few minutes it took.

What I'm waiting for now

At the moment, I'm waiting for a response.

That's it.

No laptop has arrived.

No partnership has been announced.

No company has promised anything.

This article is not an announcement that I received hardware.

It is an experiment.

I contacted two major companies involved in the AI revolution and asked whether there might be a path for an independent developer like me to receive hardware support.

Now I wait.

And if they respond, I'll share what happens.

If they say yes, I'll document the experience.

If they say no, I'll share that too.

If they point me toward a developer program, I'll investigate it.

If they don't answer at all, well... that's also an answer.

Why I'm sharing this publicly

I think there is something useful about showing the process instead of only showing the final result.

Online, we often see people saying:

“I built this.”

“I got this.”

“I received this sponsorship.”

“I launched this company.”

What we don't see very often is the uncomfortable middle.

The unanswered email.

The uncertainty.

The rejection.

The waiting.

The moment where you're sitting in front of your screen wondering whether anyone on the other side will even read what you wrote.

That's where I am right now.

Waiting.

But I'm also continuing to build.

Because whether NVIDIA or HUMAIN sends me a laptop doesn't determine whether I can continue learning AI.

It would certainly make things easier.

It could open the door to experiments that are difficult on my current hardware.

It could accelerate what I'm building.

But the project existed before the email.

And it will continue after the email.

The experiment continues

HUMAIN's Horizon Pro represents an interesting direction for personal computing: AI running locally, hybrid AI connected to the cloud, and computers designed around AI agents rather than treating AI as just another application.

That's the kind of technology I want to explore.

And NVIDIA represents another side of the same revolution: the hardware and computing infrastructure that makes increasingly powerful AI development possible.

So I asked.

Now I'm waiting.

Maybe someone at NVIDIA will open my email.

Maybe someone at HUMAIN will read my request.

Maybe I'll get a response I wasn't expecting.

And maybe, one day soon, I'll be sitting in front of a new AI machine wondering what I can build with it.

For now, there is only one thing on my screen:

Sent.

And the question hanging in the air is simple:

What happens when an independent developer finally asks the companies building the AI future to help him build it too?