Gatik Appoints Prominent AI Leader Aleksandr Petiushko to Lead New AI Research Division

September 12, 2024 at 12:00 PM EDT

Team to pioneer breakthroughs in autonomous driving as Gatik strengthens its leadership in the autonomous middle mile sector
This significant hire underscores Gatik's commitment to scaling its AI-driven autonomous solutions with a rigorous focus on safety

Gatik, the market leader in autonomous middle mile logistics, today announced the appointment of Aleksandr Petiushko as head of the Gatik AI Research Group. Petiushko will lead Gatik's ambitious research agenda to advance autonomous transportation technologies by addressing the industry's most complex challenges through sophisticated AI research that seamlessly integrates robust academic methodologies with scalable industrial applications.

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The Gatik AI Research Group is actively establishing partnerships with top-tier academic institutions, leading scientists, and research experts to drive forward innovations in AI, facilitating access to cutting-edge research and elite talent. The group’s research framework focuses on the entire autonomy stack, leveraging state-of-the-art AI methodologies that fuse academic rigor with industrial scalability. This broad strategy aims to enhance critical areas of the autonomy stack, focusing on improving system functionalities like predictive modeling, mapping accuracy, perception algorithms, and decision-making processes. By optimizing these components, the goal is to significantly boost the efficiency, safety, and reliability of autonomous systems in complex Operational Domains (ODDs).

Petiushko, formerly the Head of Machine Learning Research at Nuro, brings a deep and accomplished expertise in machine learning, expertly integrating innovative theoretical research with applied, real-world implementations. At Nuro, he played a pivotal role in advancing the state-of-the-art in autonomous vehicle technology by developing and deploying robust machine learning models and prototypes that prioritized safety, reliability, and efficiency. Additionally, he is an adjunct professor of ML and AI at Sofia University and lecturer at Lomonosov Moscow State University on the Theory of Deep Learning. He has contributed to numerous academic publications at top conferences and journals in the areas of artificial intelligence, computer science, and mathematics.

“I’m excited to welcome Aleksandr, one of the world’s leading talents in AI, as the head of our AI Research Group. Our primary aim is to set new standards for smarter, safer, and more efficient transportation. Aleksandr's proven expertise in advancing AI for safety-critical applications is unparalleled. His work involves enhancing the accuracy and reliability of AI models unlocking the benefits of autonomous driving technology at scale,” said Gautam Narang, CEO and co-founder of Gatik.

With this appointment, Gatik reaffirms its commitment to assembling a top-tier team of academic and industry specialists, driving forward the innovation in autonomous technology. This diverse team unites leading researchers and engineers whose pioneering work and expertise are pushing the boundaries of technological advancements in the autonomous vehicle industry.

About Gatik

Gatik, the leader in autonomous middle-mile logistics, is revolutionizing B2B logistics with autonomous transportation-as-a-service (ATaaS) and prioritizing safe, consistent deliveries and streamlining freight movement by reducing congestion. The company focuses on short-haul, B2B logistics for Fortune 500 retailers and in 2021 launched the world’s first fully driverless commercial transportation service with Walmart. Gatik’s Class 3-7 autonomous box trucks are commercially deployed in multiple markets including Texas, Arkansas, and Ontario. Gatik is partnered with industry leaders including Isuzu Motors, Cummins, Ryder and Goodyear. Founded in 2017 by veterans of the autonomous technology industry, the company has offices in Mountain View, Dallas Fort Worth, Arkansas and Toronto.

For more information, visit www.gatik.ai.