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Ilian H. Herzi

Ilian H. Herzi

Blends computer science, biology, and psychology with a passion for AI

ilianherzi
San Francisco, California
Joined December 2025

Network

1.6K connections
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Apple AI ML Robotics
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Wayve Autonomous Systems
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AI Startup Founders
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Berkeley Stanford Alumni
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AI ML Investors
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OpenAI
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NVIDIA AI ML

Summary

Ilian H. Herzi is a rising leader in the AI startup ecosystem, currently serving as CEO of a stealth AI startup as of May 2025. This move follows significant experience at leading technology companies and research institutions, positioning him at the forefront of AI innovation and entrepreneurship.
With a strong foundation in machine learning and computer vision, Ilian's career includes impactful roles at Apple's Special Projects Group as a Machine Learning Engineer, where he contributed to autonomous systems, generative models, and model optimization. He also worked as a Machine Learning Researcher at Wayve, focusing on advanced AI applications in robotics and autonomous driving.
His academic background from the University of California, Berkeley, includes both a Master of Science in EECS and a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science and Applied Math. During his time at Berkeley, he was a Machine Learning Researcher at Berkeley Artificial Intelligence Research (BAIR) under Professor Canny, actively engaged in representation learning and assistive AI projects, and contributed to several research papers. berkeley+2
Ilian is a prolific writer and thought leader in the AI space, sharing insights on data-centric AI approaches, large language models (LLMs), and philosophical implications of AI. His writings, including the InterpretAI blog post 'Data scale is NOT all you need' and various Medium articles, emphasize intelligent data curation, memory in AI agents, and the ethical considerations of rapidly evolving AI technologies. interpretai+3
Beyond his technical prowess, Ilian demonstrates a unique interdisciplinary perspective, blending computer science with biology and psychology. His interests span genetics, brain-machine interfaces, neurology, and the fundamental questions of consciousness and identity, influencing his approach to AI development and research. cs168+1

Work

Education

Projects

Writing

Data scale is NOT all you need

July 21, 2025

A blog post advocating for intelligent data curation strategies over blindly scaling data to build better AI models, reduce costs, and avoid dangerous AI failures, referencing his experience in the field.

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ChatGPT - Logogen

November 1, 2023

A LinkedIn post discussing the creation of GPTs, specifically mentioning a 'Logogen' bot for generating custom logos.

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LangChain Short-term and Longterm Memory Conversational Agents

September 1, 2023

A post discussing the implementation and challenges of building conversational AI agents with both short-term and long-term memory using LangChain.

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LangChain Llama Jokester

September 1, 2023

A quick post about the basics of LangChain, demonstrating a 'Llama Jokester' project.

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Hierarchical Markovian Variational Autoencoders

January 1, 2022

A Medium blog post delving into the technical aspects of Hierarchical Markovian Variational Autoencoders, their theoretical foundations, and practical applications.

Favicon imageilianherzi.medium.com

The Self. What it means to be you.

November 18, 2018

A Medium blog post exploring philosophical questions of identity, consciousness, and the distinction between logical and physical differences, using thought experiments involving teleportation and other concepts.

Favicon imageilianherzi.medium.com

Inducing Synesthesia

November 1, 2018

A Medium blog post discussing the phenomenon of synesthesia, including how it might be acquired or induced, and exploring its implications.

Favicon imageilianherzi.medium.com

Election Agent providing factual data on political candidates

A GPT created by Ilian Herzi designed to provide factual data on political candidates, indicating an interest in using AI for information dissemination and civic engagement.

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Hobbies

Ilian enjoys exploring the intersection of computer science, biology, and psychology, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence, genetics, computer vision, brain-machine interfaces, and neurology. cs168

He is interested in philosophy, consciousness, and the implications of emerging technologies on human identity and society, as demonstrated by his Medium blog post 'The Self'. medium

He has a background as an Eagle Scout, indicating an early involvement in leadership, community service, and outdoor activities.

Notes

GSGabriele Sorrentosaid they've seen
IHilian H. Herzi
lead a stealth company with clear vision and strong execution.

Feb 19, 2026