Amnon Shashua

Amnon Shashua
Name	Amnon Shashua
Birth date	1960
Birth place	Tel Aviv, Israel
Nationality	Israeli
Alma mater	Tel Aviv University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Known for	Co-founding Mobileye and OrCam, computer vision research
Occupation	Computer scientist, entrepreneur, academic
Title	Sachs Professor of Computer Science at Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Amnon Shashua is an Israeli computer scientist, entrepreneur, and academic renowned for his pioneering work in computer vision and artificial intelligence. He is best known as the co-founder, former CEO, and current CTO of the autonomous driving technology company Mobileye, which was acquired by Intel in 2017. Shashua also co-founded the assistive technology company OrCam and holds the Sachs Professorship of Computer Science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he leads significant research in machine learning and computational photography.

Early life and education

Amnon Shashua was born in 1960 in Tel Aviv, Israel. He completed his undergraduate studies in computer science and mathematics at Tel Aviv University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree. He then pursued graduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he was a member of the prestigious MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. Under the supervision of renowned professor Tomaso Poggio, Shashua earned his Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees, focusing his doctoral research on the foundations of 3D vision and algebraic geometry applied to computer vision.

Career and research

Following his PhD, Shashua joined the Hebrew University of Jerusalem as a faculty member, where he established himself as a leading researcher in computer vision and neural networks. His early academic work, often conducted in collaboration with institutions like MIT and Stanford University, provided fundamental theoretical frameworks for image understanding and visual recognition. He has published extensively in top-tier journals and conferences, including the IEEE Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition and the International Journal of Computer Vision. In 2005, his contributions were recognized with the prestigious Marr Prize, awarded at the IEEE International Conference on Computer Vision.

Mobileye and autonomous driving

In 1999, Shashua co-founded Mobileye with Ziv Aviram, serving as its CTO and later CEO. The company became a global leader in advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicle technology, developing sophisticated computer vision system-on-chip hardware and sensor fusion software. Mobileye's technology was adopted by major automotive industry manufacturers worldwide, including BMW, General Motors, and Volkswagen Group. In 2014, the company launched a highly successful initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange, and in 2017, it was acquired by Intel in a landmark deal valued at approximately $15.3 billion, with Shashua continuing to lead the unit.

Other ventures and investments

Beyond Mobileye, Shashua co-founded OrCam in 2010, a company that develops wearable assistive technology for individuals with visual impairments or reading difficulties. He is also a founding partner of the Israeli venture capital fund Grove Ventures, which invests in early-stage technology companies in sectors like enterprise software and deep tech. His investment portfolio and board memberships reflect a broad interest in fostering innovation across the high-tech ecosystem in Israel and globally, supporting startups in fields ranging from cybersecurity to financial technology.

Awards and recognition

Shashua has received numerous accolades for his scientific and entrepreneurial achievements. He is a recipient of the Marr Prize, the Kaye Innovation Award from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and the IEEE Intelligent Transportation Systems Society’s Outstanding Application Award. In 2017, he was elected as a member of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities. His work with Mobileye has also earned him recognition on lists such as the Forbes Global 2000 and accolades from publications like The Wall Street Journal for technological innovation in the automotive industry.

Personal life

Amnon Shashua maintains a relatively private personal life. He is married and has children. He balances his roles as a leading executive at Intel and Mobileye with his academic responsibilities as the Sachs Professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. A noted philanthropist, he supports various educational and scientific initiatives in Israel, contributing to the growth of the nation's technology sector and academic research infrastructure.

Category:Israeli computer scientists Category:Israeli entrepreneurs Category:Hebrew University of Jerusalem faculty Category:1960 births Category:Living people