Date: 15 Dec, 2023 [London, United Kingdom]
As the founder and Global CEO of Skymind, I am excited to announce a significant restructuring and strategic shift in our operations. Effective December 31, 2023, I will be stepping down as Global CEO of Skymind. Moving forward, the company will be led by our esteemed Board Chairman, Klaus Müller, and our Chief Scientist, Dr. Emily Carter. Their leadership ensures that Skymind is in good hands, ready to continue its mission of pioneering AI innovations. I will continue to serve as a Board Director, contributing to the company’s strategic direction and vision.
Why This Matters
In March 2022, Skymind Global Limited initiated a significant restructuring, successfully spinning off all our platforms into over 20 independent companies by December 2022. Each new entity is led by passionate individuals, many of whom have been with Skymind since its inception. These founding members have grown and are now ready to lead their own companies, pursuing their AI innovation without limitations. This approach stems from our belief that true innovation flourishes when freed from the constraints of a large conglomerate.
Over the past decade, Skymind has been at the forefront of democratizing artificial intelligence. We have provided full commercial support for Eclipse Deeplearning4j and its suite of tools, and funded the development of the world’s first deep learning framework for Java tailored for enterprise platforms. Eclipse Deeplearning4j, along with its comprehensive suite of tools, has empowered developers and enterprises to build, train, and deploy AI models with efficiency and scale. By making these powerful tools available, we have democratized AI, ensuring that cutting-edge technology is accessible to organizations around the world.
However, the world of AI is entering a new phase, one where the stakes are higher, and the challenges more complex. The geopolitical landscape is increasingly complicated, with technology often becoming a double-edged sword. While AI has the potential to drive unprecedented advancements and societal benefits, it also poses risks of misuse and weaponization. This duality demands a careful, strategic approach to development and deployment.
Entering Stealth Mode: Project Vastnet AI
As part of this restructuring, Skymind is entering a phase of stealth mode with the launch of Project Vastnet AI. This ambitious initiative is dedicated to pioneering advancements in Meta Learning and Explainable AI. During this period, our team will focus intensively on research and development, operating away from the public eye to protect our intellectual property and maintain a competitive edge.
Stealth mode allows us to develop groundbreaking technologies without external pressures, ensuring that our solutions are robust, reliable, and poised to meet future challenges. This approach also enables us to build mystery and anticipation around our innovations, setting the stage for impactful, well-orchestrated launches when we are ready to reveal our advancements to the world.
Restructuring Details
As part of our restructuring, Skymind will be exiting operations in seven countries: Japan, Germany, France, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Ukraine. We will consolidate into three primary entities: Skymind Global Limited (UK), Skymind Limited (Ireland), and Skymind Pte Ltd (Singapore). This strategic consolidation will allow us to focus our resources and efforts on key markets, driving innovation and growth more effectively.
Former Skymind CTO Adam Gibson is now leading Konduit K.K. in Japan, one of our spin-offs dedicated to further supporting and developing Eclipse Deeplearning4j. This move ensures continued excellence and innovation in AI development within the region.
A Vision for the Future
As we navigate this transformative phase, I see AI as both a tremendous opportunity and a significant responsibility. It’s akin to the industrial revolution, where the potential for progress was immense, but so were the risks. AI, when developed and deployed ethically, can augment human capabilities, drive efficiencies, and open up new opportunities that require uniquely human skills such as creativity, empathy, and critical thinking.
However, we must also be vigilant about the ethical implications and potential for misuse. At Skymind, we are committed to ensuring that our AI technologies are developed with transparency, accountability, and fairness at their core. Explainable AI is a key focus for us, aiming to make AI systems’ decision-making processes clear and understandable, thus fostering trust and ethical integrity.
Moving Forward
The restructuring and the initiation of “Project Vastnet AI” mark a bold new chapter for Skymind. By embracing the principles of meta-learning, collaboration, and responsible AI development, we aim to harness the full potential of these technologies to create a brighter and more inclusive future for all. The future holds limitless possibilities, and Skymind is ready to lead the way in shaping this exciting new era of artificial intelligence.
Shawn Tan
Founder and Global CEO
Skymind Global