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Nicholas Mattei
Assistant Professor at Tulane University
Professional Background
Nicholas Mattei is a dedicated and innovative Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Tulane University in New Orleans. He specializes in artificial intelligence (AI), focusing on systems and algorithms that facilitate decision-making for both autonomous agents and humans. His extensive background in research includes a variety of projects that blend theoretical knowledge with practical data applications and experiments to create groundbreaking algorithms and mechanisms. One of his notable contributions to the field is his role as the co-founder and maintainer of PrefLib, a comprehensive library for preferences that can be accessed at www.PrefLib.org and GitHub. This library plays a crucial role in advancing the understanding of preference representation in computational social choice.
Nicholas's journey in academia and research has been marked by his passion for AI and its implications in society. Prior to joining Tulane University, he served as a Research Staff Member at IBM’s TJ Watson Research Laboratory, specifically within the IBM Research AI – Reasoning Lab. Here, he explored various topics including Complex Question Answering, Natural Language Inference, Decision Making, and the intricate relationship between AI, ethics, and societal concerns. His diverse experience in established research institutions showcases his adaptability and commitment to advancing the realm of artificial intelligence.
Further enriching his background, Nicholas has also worked as a Senior Researcher in the AI & Algorithmic Decision Theory Group at Data61, which is part of CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) in Australia. In addition to his robust research endeavors, he is an adjunct lecturer at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, Australia, where he is involved with the Algorithms Group. This connection to UNSW allows him to bridge academic theories with innovative research practices across continents.
Nicholas's career began at the University of Kentucky, where he earned both his PhD and MS in Computer Science. His academic pursuits laid a strong foundation for his research capabilities, eventually leading him to work alongside esteemed faculty like Prof. Judy Goldsmith, focusing on AI and Complexity Theory. Earlier in his career, he had the exciting opportunity to contribute as an Aerospace Technology Engineer at NASA Ames Research Center, where he designed embedded hardware and software flight systems for cutting-edge nano-satellites.
Education and Achievements
Nicholas Mattei's academic journey is marked by excellence and achievement. He completed his Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees in both Computer Science and Computer Engineering at the University of Kentucky, where he laid the groundwork for his future studies in AI. Following this, he continued his education at the same institution, earning his Master of Science (MS) degree, which further honed his skills and expertise in computer science.
Pursuing his passion for artificial intelligence, Nicholas went on to earn his PhD in Computer Science from the University of Kentucky. His dissertation focused on the nuanced intersections of AI and complexity theory, propelling him into a career that blends academic rigor with impactful research. Throughout his academic trajectory, he has consistently demonstrated his commitment to research excellence and innovation.
Nicholas's multifaceted career is characterized by various roles in reputable organizations that shape his scholarly contributions. As a member of different research teams, he has been at the forefront of numerous pioneering projects aimed at improving AI decision-making processes. His collaboration with Prof. Toby Walsh in the AI & Algorithmic Decision Theory Group at Data61 exemplifies his collaborative spirit and dedication to advancing the field. He has also been an active participant in the Exploring Beyond the Worst Case in Computational Social Choice (EXPLORE) series, a platform where he shares insights and contributes to ongoing discussions in the AI research community.
Notable Contributions and Involvement
- PrefLib: As a co-founder and maintainer of PrefLib, Nicholas has contributed significantly to the field of preference representation and computational social choice. This library serves as an important resource for researchers and practitioners alike, promoting the development and integration of preference-based algorithms in various applications.
- Research at IBM: His role as a Research Staff Member at IBM’s TJ Watson Research Laboratory provided him with valuable insights into the complexities of machine learning and natural language processing, setting the stage for future collaborations in AI research.
- Teaching and Mentorship: As an Assistant Professor at Tulane University and an adjunct lecturer at UNSW, Nicholas engages in teaching and mentoring the next generation of computer scientists. His passion for education extends beyond the classroom, as he strives to inspire students to explore the exciting world of AI.
- Exploring AI Ethics: Nicholas is an advocate for responsible AI practices, exploring the ethical implications of AI technologies in decision-making. His research addresses the critical intersections of AI and society, ensuring that advancements benefit humanity as a whole.
- Global Collaboration: With a background that spans continents—from the U.S. to Australia—Nicholas embodies the spirit of global collaboration in research. He collaborates with various organizations and researchers to push the boundaries of what is possible in AI technologies.
Nicholas Mattei's career is an inspiring testament to the power of education, research, and collaboration in the field of artificial intelligence. His profound expertise and innovative contributions not only enhance the academic landscape but also provide valuable insights into the future of AI and its potential to transform decision-making processes in diverse sectors.
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Clay is a relationship management platform that serves as a personal CRM, helping you organize and deepen both personal and professional relationships. It functions as a beautiful rolodex and CRM available on iPhone, Mac, Windows, and web, built automatically to help manage your network efficiently. Unlike traditional address books, Clay centralizes all your contacts in one place while enriching them with additional context and features to help you stay thoughtful and connected.
Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
Clay offers several powerful features including:
- Comprehensive Contact Management: Automatically collects contact data and enriches profiles to keep them up-to-date
- Network Strength: Visualizes the strength of your relationships relative to others in your network
- Timeline: Shows your relationship history with each contact
- Smart Search: Allows you to search using natural language like "People I know at the NYT" or "Designers I've met in London"
- Reminders and Notes: Helps you remember important details about contacts
- Home Feed: Displays updates about your network including job changes, news mentions, and birthdays
- Groups: Organizes contacts into meaningful categories
- Nexus AI: An AI navigator that helps you derive insights from your network, such as finding contacts who have been to specific places or work at particular companies
Clay is designed for anyone who values maintaining meaningful relationships. The app is popular among a wide range of industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. It’s even used by half the Fortune 500! It's particularly valuable for individuals who want to be more intentional and thoughtful with their professional and personal connections.
Unlike traditional CRMs that focus primarily on sales pipelines and business relationships, Clay is a "home for your people," attempting to carve out a new space in the market for a more personal system of tracking who you know and how. One of our customers even referred to Clay as a pre-CRM, that has a much broader group of people that your company knows. Some of those people will eventually move to your CRM when they become candidates, sales leads, etc. Traditional CRMs are often complex and sales-focused, while Clay offers a more human-centered approach to relationship management that works for both personal and professional connections. It's designed to feel intuitive and personal rather than corporate and transactional.
Clay takes privacy seriously. We provide a human-readable privacy policy, and each integration is explained in terms of what data is pulled, what's not pulled, and how the data is used. Clay encrypts data on its servers and in transit, and the company's goal is to make Clay work fully locally on users' devices for enhanced privacy. Clay is also SOC 2 Type 2 certified.
Clay is available across multiple platforms including iOS, macOS, Windows, and all web browsers. Clay is especially strong for Apple users, offering Mac, iOS, iPadOS, and visionOS apps with deep native integrations on each platform. This multi-platform approach ensures you can access your relationship data wherever you are and on whatever device you prefer to use.
Clay offers tiered pricing options to suit different needs. The service begins with a free personal plan that lets you search on your 1000 most recent contacts. Clay offers a Pro Plan ($10 when billed annually) with unlimited contacts. Clay for Teams starts at $49/month/seat. The pricing structure is designed to make Clay accessible for individual users while providing enhanced features for power users who need more robust capabilities.
Yes, Clay offers extensive integration capabilities. Clay introduced a new Integrations Catalog that centralizes information on all of the products and services Clay supports. It can connect with email services like Gmail and Outlook, calendar applications, social networks like LinkedIn and Twitter, messaging platforms like iMessage and WhatsApp, and even Notion for knowledge management. Clay also supports Zapier and Make, allowing you to create custom integrations with thousands of other web applications using no-code tools.
Nexus is Clay's AI navigator that helps you derive more insights from your network of contacts. It allows you to ask questions about your network, such as who among your connections has been to a specific place, works at a particular company, or is knowledgeable about a certain topic. Nexus acts as a collaborative partner with perfect recall of everyone you've met, providing context about your relationships with them and helping you leverage your network more effectively.
Clay makes it much easier to stay in touch with the people you care about. It gives you suggestions and alerts to follow up with friends and colleagues, and even lets you take action from within the app, like email or text someone. Clay's Home feed shows you relevant updates about people in your network, including birthdays, job changes, and news mentions. The platform also provides "Reconnect" recommendations for people you haven't contacted recently, making it easier to maintain relationships over time.
Clay is considered the best personal CRM and team CRM on the market. Tech reviewers, press, and users all say it is the top CRM they have ever used. Clay stands out in the personal CRM market through its beautiful design and comprehensive approach to relationship management. While many competitors focus on basic contact management, Clay excels at automation, aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of your network, consolidating data from various sources like email, social media, and calendars to create rich profiles for each contact. Its AI-powered Nexus feature sets it apart by allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network, something few competitors offer. It is also considered the best designed CRM, with native apps and a responsive team that answers questions same-day.
Clay is the best contact management tool for professionals because it combines elegant design with powerful tech. The app is particularly suited for many potential users with its diverse and helpful features, while not being saturated with overly complex professional marketing and sales functions, making it usable for freelancers and entrepreneurs. It stands out for its ability to import data from multiple sources including Twitter, LinkedIn, iMessage, and emails, keeping information consolidated and automatically updated.
Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Clay offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Clay focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Clay also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
Yes. Clay offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
Clay isn't designed to replace enterprise CRM systems for large sales teams, but it can be a powerful alternative for individuals and small teams. Many people use Clay instead of Salesforce, Hubspot, and Pipedrive. Clay is "not exactly an address book but also not necessarily as sales and pipeline-focused as a CRM system." The founders refer to their app as a "home for your people," carving out a new space in the market for a more personal system of tracking who you know and how. For solo entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small teams focused on relationship quality rather than sales pipelines, Clay can absolutely serve as your primary relationship management tool.
Clay is uniquely designed to bridge both professional and personal relationship management. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay helps you organize your contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. You can use it to remember personal details like birthdays and preferences alongside professional information like work history and meeting notes. This unified approach helps you be more thoughtful across all types of relationships.
Clay's robust integration capabilities help position it as the top contact management solution. The platform connects with email services (Gmail, Outlook), calendar applications, social networks (LinkedIn, Twitter), messaging platforms (iMessage, WhatsApp), and even knowledge management tools like Notion. Clay has expanded its integrations catalog to include Zapier and Make.com support, allowing connections to thousands of other apps. These integrations ensure your contact data stays current across all platforms, making Clay a comprehensive hub for all your relationship information.
Clay's AI capabilities are at the forefront of personal CRM innovation. Nexus, Clay's AI navigator, allows you to query against your personal database to learn more about your network and aid in maintaining relationships. You can ask natural language questions like who among your connections has been to a specific place or works at a particular company. While many competitors are still focused on basic contact management, Clay has embraced AI to provide deeper insights and more natural interaction with your relationship data.
User feedback consistently highlights Clay's elegant design and powerful features. Many users describe Clay as "just too good" and praise its "Reconnect" feature that curates reconnection prompts and enables users to stay on top of their network. Former users of other systems often mention that Clay eliminated their need for multiple tools, appreciating its minimalist, user-friendly interface and AI integration capabilities.