Born in 1960 in Jerusalem, Israel, Professor Amnon Shashua is a towering intellectual figure in the world of computer vision and Artificial Intelligence. His success story is the ultimate validation of academic excellence translated into world-changing technology. He began his rigorous scientific journey as an undergraduate at Tel Aviv University, where he studied computer science and mathematics, cultivating the highly disciplined scientific thinking that would become his hallmark.

Shashua continued his studies at the prestigious Weizmann Institute of Science, earning both a Master's and a Ph.D. His intellectual home, however, became the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he currently holds the Sachs Chair in Computer Science. His expertise lies in machine learning, and specifically, computer vision—the very field required to teach machines how to 'see' and understand the world, which is the foundational technology for autonomous driving and his ultimate business success.

Professor Shashua’s career is defined by two major entrepreneurial acts of genius. The first came in 1999 when he co-founded Mobileye with Ziv Aviram. The company’s mission was radical: to develop a single-camera, AI-driven Advanced Driver-Assistance System (ADAS) to prevent accidents. For years, skeptics doubted a single camera could achieve the necessary safety standards, but Shashua’s algorithmic innovation proved them wrong. Mobileye’s technology became the industry standard, installed in millions of vehicles globally.

The culmination of this journey was the historic $15.3 billion acquisition by Intel in 2017, which stands as the largest acquisition of an Israeli company to date. Shashua was instrumental in the deal and remained President and CEO, guiding the merged entity’s push into fully autonomous vehicles. His second entrepreneurial act was the co-founding of OrCam Technologies in 2010, which developed AI-driven assistive devices for the visually and hearing-impaired. More recently, he continues to push the intellectual frontier by founding AI21 Labs, focused on large language models and human-centric AI, securing his place as a perpetual innovator.

Professor Shashua's social impact is inherent in the technology he invents, focusing on saving lives and empowering the disabled. Mobileye’s technology, which prevents accidents and reduces fatalities, has a monumental global humanitarian effect. His work with OrCam Technologies is arguably his most emotionally resonant contribution, providing 'sight' through AI to the visually impaired, turning a profound disability into manageable independence for thousands.

On an academic front, his lifelong dedication to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he continues to teach and conduct research, is a major form of intellectual philanthropy, ensuring Israel remains a hub for computer science excellence. His receiving the prestigious Dan David Prize in the field of Artificial Intelligence in 2020 also reflects the global recognition of his contributions to both science and society.

Amnon Shashua’s style is that of the hyper-intellectual Israeli professor-turned-mogul. His fashion is practical, high-quality, and generally understated, often consisting of business casual wear, reflecting his commitment to the academic and research environment. He avoids the flashy pretense of typical billionaires, preferring instead to be recognized for his technical and intellectual authority.

His luxury is intellectual and scientific. He splits his time between his academic chair in Jerusalem and the corporate headquarters of his various ventures, managing a life balanced between pure research and high-stakes commercial strategy. His most prized possessions are likely his patents and research papers, rather than conventional luxury goods. When he travels, it is to automotive factories, tech summits, or university campuses, a life spent at the apex of global innovation. The ultimate sign of his affluence is the multi-billion dollar valuation of the ideas he generates.