Daniela L. Rus

Daniela L. Rus is the Co-founder of Liquid AI. She is the Andrew (1956) and Erna Viterbi Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Director of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) at MIT.

Spun out from their work at MIT CSAIL, Rus and fellow founders Ramin Hasani, Mathias Lechner, and Alexander Amini started Liquid AI to create a new generation of AI foundation models powered by liquid neural networks. Built from first principles and inspired by the neural system of a tiny worm, liquid networks are a revolutionary class of AI that mimics the neural processes of simple organisms to navigate complex environments with remarkable efficiency. Rus’s TED talk, How AI will step off the screen and into the real world, provided further depth on the potential of liquid networks. She explains how liquid networks and the convergence of AI and robots can unlock new possibilities in everyday life, enabling AI to operate beyond digital confines and engage dynamically in the real world.

The key focus of Rus' research is to develop the science and engineering of autonomy, enabling users to build, access, and control their AI solutions for greater efficiency and scale. Rus’s robust expertise in robotics, mobile computing, and data science has been instrumental in advancing the field. She was named a co-recipient of the John Scott Award for her robotics research, which has expanded our understanding of what a robot can do as helpful tools to support human precision and reach against real-world problems.

Rus’ impact on fostering learning and education has also been celebrated in the industry as she is a recipient of the Engelberger Robotics Award for Education for her work as a leader, educator, and pioneer in the field of robotics. Rus is a Class of 2002 MacArthur Fellow, a fellow of ACM, AAAI and IEEE, and a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy for Arts and Science. She earned her PhD in Computer Science from Cornell University.