# Piero Molino

> Piero Molino is a San Francisco-based AI researcher and entrepreneur, the creator of Ludwig and co-founder and original CEO of Predibase. He now leads Studio Atelico, developing on-device AI technology and games including Bobium Brawlers. His career spans question answering, Uber AI, Stanford research and an earlier period editing video-game coverage.

- **Role:** CEO and Co-founder at Studio Atelico
- **Organizations:** Studio Atelico, Predibase, Ludwig, Uber AI Labs, Stanford University, Geometric Intelligence, IBM Watson, QuestionCube, Yahoo Labs Barcelona, FF3300, Everyeye.it, Geodesia
- **Education:** PhD in Computer Science; research on semantics and question answering, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Master’s degree in Computer Science, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, University of Bari Aldo Moro
- **Known for:** Created Ludwig, an open-source declarative deep-learning framework supported by the Linux Foundation., Co-founded Predibase, acquired by Rubrik in July 2025; Rubrik reported $109.1 million in purchase consideration., Co-founded Studio Atelico, which announced $5 million in seed funding led by Air Street Capital in August 2025.

## Career timeline

- **2004-2007** — Video-game journalist and Nintendo section editor at Everyeye.it.
- **2011-2015** — Co-founder and CTO of QuestionCube, developing question-answering systems.
- **2013** — Research intern at Yahoo Labs Barcelona.
- **2015** — Completed computer science doctorate at Bari; worked in computational design at FF3300.
- **2015-2016** — Researcher at IBM Watson.
- **2016** — Joined Geometric Intelligence, acquired by Uber in December; became a founding member of Uber AI.
- **2017** — Started the personal project that became Ludwig.
- **2019** — Ludwig released as open source.
- **2020-2021** — Staff research scientist in Chris Ré’s Hazy Research group at Stanford.
- **2021** — Co-founded Predibase with Travis Addair, Devvret Rishi and Chris Ré; served as original CEO.
- **2023** — Moved from Predibase CEO to chief scientific officer.
- **2025** — CEO and co-founder of Studio Atelico; left Predibase following the Rubrik acquisition announcement. Atelico announced a $5 million seed round in August.
- **2026** — Atelico announced Bobium Brawlers, published the draft Artist Rights Contract and opened an iOS closed beta.

## Achievements

- Created Ludwig, an open-source declarative deep-learning framework supported by the Linux Foundation.
- Co-founded Predibase, acquired by Rubrik in July 2025; Rubrik reported $109.1 million in purchase consideration.
- Co-founded Studio Atelico, which announced $5 million in seed funding led by Air Street Capital in August 2025.
- QuestionCube’s PArisponde received an Apps4Italy special prize.
- Co-authored research on declarative deep learning and Wittgenstein’s influence on AI.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — Appeared on Ben Lorica’s Data Exchange podcast discussing AI as a game mechanic, local models and artist participation.
- **2026-09** — Bobium Brawlers entered an iOS closed beta.
- **2026-08** — Discussed lessons from more than ten prototypes, authored constraints and artist collaboration in an 80 Level interview.
- **2026-03** — Studio Atelico published ARC, its Artist Rights Contract framework, as a draft.

## Links

- Website: https://www.w4nderlu.st/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pieromolino/
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/w4nderlus7
- GitHub: https://github.com/w4nderlust
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/w4nderlust.pm

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/piero-molino
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-13