Matt Shaffer
About Matt Shaffer
Matt Shaffer serves as the Vice President of Artificial Intelligence and Co-founder at RIOS Corporation, where he focuses on developing advanced robotic systems and AI solutions for manufacturing. He has a diverse background in AI and robotics, having held various roles in startups and research institutions, and has a strong commitment to making AI accessible for industrial applications.
Current Role at RIOS Corporation
Matt Shaffer serves as the Vice President of Artificial Intelligence and Co-founder at RIOS Corporation since 2018. In this role, he has been instrumental in pioneering the Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS) business model, which offers on-demand automation solutions. He manages applied research efforts for new product development and focuses on developing dexterous robots equipped with advanced tactile sensors. Shaffer emphasizes the importance of user-friendly AI interfaces for end-users in industrial settings and has developed the Mission Control platform, designed to simplify AI deployment in manufacturing.
Previous Experience in Artificial Intelligence
Before joining RIOS, Matt Shaffer held various positions in the field of artificial intelligence. He worked as a Deep Learning/AI Engineer Intern at Dishcraft Robotics for six months in 2018. He also served as the Founder and Developer at Qlabs.ai from 2015 to 2016. Additionally, he was the Director of Artificial Intelligence at a Stealth Startup for one month in 2018. His experience includes architecting multi-task robot systems that integrate high-dimensional sensor inputs with advanced deep learning for perception and control.
Educational Background
Matt Shaffer earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Geography from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he studied from 1999 to 2003. He later pursued a Master’s Degree in Information and Data Science at the University of California, Berkeley, completing his studies from 2016 to 2018. His educational background provides a strong foundation for his work in artificial intelligence and data science.
Entrepreneurial Ventures
Matt Shaffer has a history of entrepreneurial endeavors. He founded GearUni LLC, where he worked from 2013 to 2015, and Planet Ceres Enterprises, where he served as Entrepreneur, Founder, and Artist Representative from 2009 to 2015. He also held the position of US Project Lead at Meshrocket, Inc. from 2015 to 2018. His experience in these roles has contributed to his expertise in developing innovative solutions in technology and automation.
Expertise in Manufacturing and AI
Shaffer has significant expertise in the application of artificial intelligence within the manufacturing sector. He has discussed the challenges and opportunities of using AI for quality control and event monitoring. His work focuses on developing machine learning systems at scale for various applications, including general manipulation, perception, planning, control, and quality metrics. He advocates for making AI accessible and scalable for manufacturers, ensuring that solutions do not require extensive expertise in data science.