Massimiliano Versace

Massimiliano Versace (born December 21, 1972 in Monfalcone, Italy) is co-founder and CEO of Neurala Inc.[1][2][3][4][5] and founding Director of the Boston University Neuromorphics Lab.[6] Versace is a Fulbright scholar and holds two Ph.Ds: Experimental Psychology, University of Trieste, Italy; Cognitive and Neural Systems, Boston University, USA. He obtained his BS from University of Trieste, Italy.

Massimiliano Versace
Born (1972-12-21) 21 December 1972
Italy
NationalityItaly
Alma mater
Known forDeep Learning Neural networks NASA SyNAPSE
AwardsFulbright Scholar
Scientific career
FieldsArtificial Intelligence Deep Learning
InstitutionsBoston University Neurala
ThesisSpikes, synchrony, and attentive learning by laminar thalamocortical circuits (2007)
Doctoral advisorStephen Grossberg
Websitemaxversace.com

Professional life

Versace grew up in Monfalcone, Italy and came to the United States in 2001 as a Fulbright scholar. Versace holds a masters in psychology from the University of Trieste and a two PhDs (Experimental Psychology, University of Trieste, Italy—Cognitive and Neural Systems, Boston University, USA). As Artificial Intelligence Professor at Boston University, he founded the Neuromorphics Lab,[7][8][9][10] and in 2009-2011 the lab led a main research thrust in the DARPA SyNAPSE in collaboration with Hewlett-Packard designing artificial nervous systems, based on deep learning, implemented on novel memristive-based devices. In December 2010, Versace published a cover-featured articled on the IEEE Spectrum [11] describing the roadmap to develop a large scale brain model making use of memristor based technologies.

The model designed by Versace and his colleagues, termed Modular Neural Exploring Traveling Agent (MoNETA)[11] was the first large-scale neural network model to implement whole-brain circuits to power a virtual and robotic agent compatibly with memristor-based hardware computations. A cover page article in IEEE Computer [12] features the software platform and modeling implemented by the joint HP and Boston University teams, and the March 2012 edition of IEEE Pulse [13] features his lab work on brain modeling.

From 2011 to 2016, Versace and his team at Neurala [14] then worked with NASA and successfully built deep learning models able to learn in real-time to power navigation and perception for autonomous robots for exploration of novel environments.[15][16][17][18][19][20][21]

His work has also been featured in TIME Magazines,[22] New York Times,[23] Nasdaq[24],The Boston Globe,[25] Xconomy,[26] IEEE Spectrum,[27] Fortune,[28] CNBC[29],The Chicago Tribune,[30] TechCrunch,[31] VentureBeat,[32] Associated Press,[33] Geek Magazine,[34] and is a TEDx[35] speaker.

In 2006, with two colleagues from Boston University, he co-founded Neurala [36]Inc. to bring this technology to market[37] in applications ranging from robots, to drones, and other smart devices.[38][39][40][41]

Awards

Versace is a recipient of the Fulbright Fellowship in 2001. Career and company awards include:

  • Gold prize at the Edison Award Best New Product in Social Innovation;[42]
  • CB Insights 100 Most Promising AI Companies;[43]
  • Draper Venture Network Most Innovative Company;[44]
  • Disruptor Daily 100 Most Disruptive Companies,[45]

Versace is also recipient of the CELEST Award for Computational Modeling of Brain and Behavior in 2009, and was awarded top cited article 2008-2010 in Brain Research.

Neural modeling, Deep Learning, and Robotics

Massimiliano Versace's pioneered research in continual learning [46] [47][48][49] neural networks, in particular applied to cortical models of learning and memory, and how to build intelligent machines equipped with low-power, high density neural chips that implement large-scale brain circuits of increasing complexity. His Synchronous Matching Adaptive Resonance Theory (SMART) model[50][51] shows spiking laminar cortical circuits self-organize and stably learn relevant information, and how these circuits be embedded in low-power, memristor based hybrid CMOS chip and used to solve challenging pattern recognition problems. His work has been featured on Fortune,[52] Inc,[53] Tech Crunch,[54] IEEE Spectrum,[55] Venture Beat,[56] among others.

See also

References
  1. Chesto, Jon. "Boston AI startup Neurala sets up shop in the Seaport - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  2. "Interview with Massimiliano Versace, CEO and Founder of Neurala - Nasdaq Disruptors". NASDAQ.com. 2018-10-03. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  3. "This Versace Family Member Wants To Make A Name In Artificial Intelligence". Fortune. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  4. "AiThority Interview Series with Massimiliano Versace, CEO at Neurala". AiThority. 2019-04-01. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  5. Smith, Phillip. "The Brains Behind the Smartest Drones, Interview with Massimiliano Versace, CEO of Neurala". dronebelow.com. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  6. Chan, Joe. "The Robot as Decider | BU Today | Boston University". BU Today. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  7. Humphries, Courtney. "Pushing the Boundaries of Artificial Intelligence | BU Today | Boston University". BU Today. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  8. Chan, Joe. "The Robot as Decider | BU Today | Boston University". BU Today. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  9. Barlow, Rich. "Boston University UROP Student Emily Fitzgerald Builds Thinking Robot | BU Today | Boston University". BU Today. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  10. "Self-directed robot can identify objects". phys.org. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  11. Versace, Massimiliano; Chandler, Ben (2010), "MoNETA: A Mind Made from Memristors", IEEE Spectrum, 12: 30–37, doi:10.1109/MSPEC.2010.5644776
  12. Snider, Greg; Amerson, Rick; Carter, Dick; Abdalla, Hisham; MuhammadShakeel, Qureshi; Leveille, Jasmin; Amerson, Rick; Versace, Massimiliano; Chandler, Ben; Patrick, Sean; Mingolla, Ennio; Gorchetchnikov, Anatoli; Ames, Heather (2011), "From Synapses to Circuitry: Using Memristive Memory to Explore the Electronic Brain", IEEE Computer, 44 (2): 21–28, doi:10.1109/MC.2011.48
  13. Ames, Heather; Versace, Massimiliano; Gortchechnikov, Anatoli; Livitz, Jasmin; Aisha, Sohail; Leveille, Jasmin; Mingolla, Ennio (2012), "The Animat" (PDF), IEEE Pulse, 3: 47–50, doi:10.1109/mpul.2011.2175638
  14. Neurala. "Neurala". www.neurala.com. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  15. "Planet-Navigating AI "Brain" Helps Drones and Cars Avoid Collisions". spinoff.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  16. Hsu, Jeremy (2017-01-17). "Deep Learning AI for NASA Powers Earth Robots". IEEE Spectrum: Technology, Engineering, and Science News. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  17. Hall, Loura (2018-09-24). "A 'Brain' for Cars, Tested for Mars". NASA. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  18. Bindi, Tas. "Neurala raises $14m to expand market for NASA-tested AI into drones and cars". ZDNet. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  19. "'Neurala Brain' Promises To Make Your Drone As Smart As NASA's Mars Rover". Tom's Hardware. 2017-03-23. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  20. "Neurala, an AI startup with ties to NASA, lands $14M in funding". SiliconANGLE. 2017-01-17. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  21. Neurala (2014-04-05), TEDx Fulbright: Max Versace of Neurala Talks About The Future of Robots, retrieved 2019-04-04
  22. "How Robots Are Changing the Way You See a Doctor". Time. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
  23. Mozur, Paul; Perlez, Jane (2017-03-22). "China Bets on Sensitive U.S. Start-Ups, Worrying the Pentagon". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
  24. "Neurala on NASDAQ TV". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
  25. Reporter, Hiawatha Bray-. "Boston AI startup builds mobile brains - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
  26. "Xconomy: Neurala, With More Cash, Advances A.I. for Drones, Self-Driving Cars". Xconomy. 2017-01-17. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
  27. Chandler, Massimiliano Versace and Ben (2010-11-23). "MoNETA: A Mind Made from Memristors". IEEE Spectrum: Technology, Engineering, and Science News. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
  28. "This Versace Family Member Wants To Make A Name In Artificial Intelligence". Fortune. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
  29. Umoh, Ruth (2017-09-06). "Artificial intelligence expert says Elon Musk is 'selling fear'". www.cnbc.com. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
  30. "Xconomy: Neurala, With More Cash, Advances A.I. for Drones, Self-Driving Cars". Xconomy. 2017-01-17. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
  31. "Neurala closes $14M Series A to bring machine learning to the edge". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
  32. "4 ways AI will prevent – not cause – an apocalypse". VentureBeat. 2017-10-30. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
  33. Rugaber, Christopher (2017-12-14). "Decade since recession: Thriving cities leave others behind". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
  34. Casey, Matt (2013), "On Edge About AI" (PDF), The Geek Magazine
  35. Neurala (2014-04-05), TEDx Fulbright: Max Versace of Neurala Talks About The Future of Robots, retrieved 2019-04-04
  36. Neurala. "Neurala". www.neurala.com. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  37. "Neurala closes $14M Series A to bring machine learning to the edge". Google News. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  38. Neurala (2018-04-03), Max Versace Gives Mobile World Congress Keynote, retrieved 2019-04-04
  39. Neurala (2016-11-07), Max Versace Talk at NVIDIA GTC EU 2016 in Amsterdam, retrieved 2019-04-04
  40. STATE Festival (2016-11-05), STATE Festival 2016 - AI: Learning to Think, retrieved 2019-04-04
  41. maxversace (0201-11-18). "AI 2.0: brains for bots". Personal page of Massimiliano Versace. Retrieved 2019-04-04. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  42. Typermass, Crystal. "Neurala Honored with 2018 Edison Award". www.neurala.com. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  43. McNabb, Miriam (2018-01-03). "Drones and AI: Neurala Named in CB Insights' AI 100 List". DRONELIFE. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  44. Versace, Massamiliano. "Neurala Named Most Innovative Company of 2016 By Draper Venture Network". www.neurala.com. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  45. "Top 10 Disruptive Companies in Boston". Disruptor Daily. 2017-03-24. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  46. "AiThority Interview Series with Massimiliano Versace, CEO at Neurala". AiThority. 2019-04-01. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  47. Versace, Max. "The Next-Generation AI Brain: How AI Is Becoming More Human". Forbes. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  48. "What is Continuous Learning and Why is it Important in 2018?". TalentLMS. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  49. Neurala (2014-04-05), TEDx Fulbright: Max Versace of Neurala Talks About The Future of Robots, retrieved 2019-04-04
  50. Neurala (2013-12-14), The Future of Robotics - Max Versace, retrieved 2019-04-04
  51. maxversace (0201-11-18). "AI 2.0: brains for bots". Personal page of Massimiliano Versace. Retrieved 2019-04-04. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  52. "This Versace Family Member Wants to Make a Name in Artificial Intelligence".
  53. "This Artificial Intelligence Expert Breaks Down Your Burning Questions". 2017-01-17.
  54. "Neurala closes $14M Series a to bring machine learning to the edge".
  55. "Full Page Reload".
  56. "Deep learning startup Neurala raises $14 million to build brains for drones, autonomous cars, and more". 2017-01-17.
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