Emad Mostaque

Emad Mostaque is a British-Bangladeshi business executive, mathematician, and former hedge fund manager.1 Here are some key details about his background and career:

Education and Early Career

Emad holds a Master of Arts degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Oxford. He began his career in finance, working as a hedge fund manager involved in crude oil trading and advising governments on Middle East affairs and Islamic extremism.1

Entrepreneurial Ventures

• In 2019, Mostaque founded Symmitree, a startup aimed at reducing technology costs for those in poverty, though the venture ultimately failed.1

• In late 2020, he founded Stability AI, the company behind the popular AI image generator Stable Diffusion.1 He served as CEO until March 23, 2024, when he resigned amid reported pressure from investors.1

Role at CAIAC

Mostaque served as the Chief Architect at CAIAC (Collective and Augmented Intelligence Against COVID-19), a project launched at Stanford University in collaboration with organizations like the World Bank, UNESCO, and WHO.13 The project aimed to organize global COVID-19 knowledge and make it understandable for policymakers.3

Advocacy and Approach

Mostaque is known for advocating an open-source approach to AI development.1 He has expressed a belief in the importance of making powerful AI models accessible to unlock human potential and bridge the digital divide.2

Personal Details

Born on April 17, 1983, Mostaque is of Bengali Muslim heritage. He was diagnosed with Asperger's and ADHD in his youth.1 He is married to Zehra Qureshi, who was involved in Stability AI's operations.1

Emad Mostaque's career has been marked by a blend of finance, technology, and entrepreneurship, with a particular focus on democratizing access to advanced AI technologies.