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 | |
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Born | Italy | 21 December 1972
Nationality | Italy |
Alma mater |
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Known for | Deep Learning Neural networks NASA SyNAPSE |
Awards | Fulbright Scholar |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Artificial Intelligence Deep Learning |
Institutions | Boston University Neurala |
Thesis | Spikes, synchrony, and attentive learning by laminar thalamocortical circuits (2007) |
Doctoral advisor | Stephen Grossberg |
Website | maxversace |
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.
![](../I/Nasa_neurala.webp.png.webp)
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
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Memristors. |
References
- Chesto, Jon. "Boston AI startup Neurala sets up shop in the Seaport - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
- "Interview with Massimiliano Versace, CEO and Founder of Neurala - Nasdaq Disruptors". NASDAQ.com. 2018-10-03. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
- "This Versace Family Member Wants To Make A Name In Artificial Intelligence". Fortune. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
- "AiThority Interview Series with Massimiliano Versace, CEO at Neurala". AiThority. 2019-04-01. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
- Smith, Phillip. "The Brains Behind the Smartest Drones, Interview with Massimiliano Versace, CEO of Neurala". dronebelow.com. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
- Chan, Joe. "The Robot as Decider | BU Today | Boston University". BU Today. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
- Humphries, Courtney. "Pushing the Boundaries of Artificial Intelligence | BU Today | Boston University". BU Today. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
- Chan, Joe. "The Robot as Decider | BU Today | Boston University". BU Today. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
- Barlow, Rich. "Boston University UROP Student Emily Fitzgerald Builds Thinking Robot | BU Today | Boston University". BU Today. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
- "Self-directed robot can identify objects". phys.org. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
- Versace, Massimiliano; Chandler, Ben (2010), "MoNETA: A Mind Made from Memristors", IEEE Spectrum, 12: 30–37, doi:10.1109/MSPEC.2010.5644776
- 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
- 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
- Neurala. "Neurala". www.neurala.com. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
- "Planet-Navigating AI "Brain" Helps Drones and Cars Avoid Collisions". spinoff.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
- Hsu, Jeremy (2017-01-17). "Deep Learning AI for NASA Powers Earth Robots". IEEE Spectrum: Technology, Engineering, and Science News. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
- Hall, Loura (2018-09-24). "A 'Brain' for Cars, Tested for Mars". NASA. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
- Bindi, Tas. "Neurala raises $14m to expand market for NASA-tested AI into drones and cars". ZDNet. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
- "'Neurala Brain' Promises To Make Your Drone As Smart As NASA's Mars Rover". Tom's Hardware. 2017-03-23. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
- "Neurala, an AI startup with ties to NASA, lands $14M in funding". SiliconANGLE. 2017-01-17. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
- Neurala (2014-04-05), TEDx Fulbright: Max Versace of Neurala Talks About The Future of Robots, retrieved 2019-04-04
- "How Robots Are Changing the Way You See a Doctor". Time. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
- 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.
- "Neurala on NASDAQ TV". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
- Reporter, Hiawatha Bray-. "Boston AI startup builds mobile brains - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
- "Xconomy: Neurala, With More Cash, Advances A.I. for Drones, Self-Driving Cars". Xconomy. 2017-01-17. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
- 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.
- "This Versace Family Member Wants To Make A Name In Artificial Intelligence". Fortune. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
- Umoh, Ruth (2017-09-06). "Artificial intelligence expert says Elon Musk is 'selling fear'". www.cnbc.com. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
- "Xconomy: Neurala, With More Cash, Advances A.I. for Drones, Self-Driving Cars". Xconomy. 2017-01-17. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
- "Neurala closes $14M Series A to bring machine learning to the edge". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
- "4 ways AI will prevent – not cause – an apocalypse". VentureBeat. 2017-10-30. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
- Rugaber, Christopher (2017-12-14). "Decade since recession: Thriving cities leave others behind". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
- Casey, Matt (2013), "On Edge About AI" (PDF), The Geek Magazine
- Neurala (2014-04-05), TEDx Fulbright: Max Versace of Neurala Talks About The Future of Robots, retrieved 2019-04-04
- Neurala. "Neurala". www.neurala.com. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
- "Neurala closes $14M Series A to bring machine learning to the edge". Google News. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
- Neurala (2018-04-03), Max Versace Gives Mobile World Congress Keynote, retrieved 2019-04-04
- Neurala (2016-11-07), Max Versace Talk at NVIDIA GTC EU 2016 in Amsterdam, retrieved 2019-04-04
- STATE Festival (2016-11-05), STATE Festival 2016 - AI: Learning to Think, retrieved 2019-04-04
- 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) - Typermass, Crystal. "Neurala Honored with 2018 Edison Award". www.neurala.com. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
- McNabb, Miriam (2018-01-03). "Drones and AI: Neurala Named in CB Insights' AI 100 List". DRONELIFE. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
- Versace, Massamiliano. "Neurala Named Most Innovative Company of 2016 By Draper Venture Network". www.neurala.com. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
- "Top 10 Disruptive Companies in Boston". Disruptor Daily. 2017-03-24. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
- "AiThority Interview Series with Massimiliano Versace, CEO at Neurala". AiThority. 2019-04-01. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
- Versace, Max. "The Next-Generation AI Brain: How AI Is Becoming More Human". Forbes. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
- "What is Continuous Learning and Why is it Important in 2018?". TalentLMS. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
- Neurala (2014-04-05), TEDx Fulbright: Max Versace of Neurala Talks About The Future of Robots, retrieved 2019-04-04
- Neurala (2013-12-14), The Future of Robotics - Max Versace, retrieved 2019-04-04
- 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) - "This Versace Family Member Wants to Make a Name in Artificial Intelligence".
- "This Artificial Intelligence Expert Breaks Down Your Burning Questions". 2017-01-17.
- "Neurala closes $14M Series a to bring machine learning to the edge".
- "Full Page Reload".
- "Deep learning startup Neurala raises $14 million to build brains for drones, autonomous cars, and more". 2017-01-17.
External links
- TedX Talk April 2014
- New Scientist August 2011
- The Neuromorphics Lab on CNN July 2011
- Silicon Brains, Thought Leaders, AZoRobotics July 2011
- Il Sole 24, Italian business newspaper March 2011
- The Boston University Neuromorphic Lab working on the DARPA SyNAPSE project to implement neural models on memristor hardware
- A blog with a section dedicated to neuroscience and its applications
- A talk on the progress the Boston University Neuromorphic Lab effort in building the memristor-based MoNETA model
- The IEEE Spectrum cover-page article "MoNETA: A Mind Made from Memristors" featuring the memristor-based neural model, December 1, 2010
- "How DARPA Is Making a Machine Mind out of Memristors", Popular Science December 3, 2010
- "Neuron-like computer hardware finally gets software", MSNBC December 6, 2010