With the launch of Theoriq, we aim to illuminate the foundation of our protocol’s vision through the stories of our co-founders, starting with Co-Founder & CEO Ron Bodkin. Ron’s lifelong journey, which began in college and extended through pioneering AI roles at the world’s most innovative tech companies, has now converged into Theoriq’s mission to democratize AI technology and enable AI innovation.

Early Interest Becoming a Lifelong Journey

Ron’s fascination with AI started in high school - he read about powerful computers running Lisp and wanted a chance to contribute as he learned to program. He was able to jump in and work with popular AI techniques at McGill University, where he excelled, earning his B.S. in Math and Computer Science with honors. This academic passion led him to MIT, where he furthered his studies with a Master’s Degree in Computer Science in the Clinical Decision Making Group. It was here, inspired by the dynamic intersection of theory and practical application, that Ron’s vision for technology’s potential began to crystallize. He pitched a groundbreaking idea at the MIT $100k Entrepreneurship Contest, a pivotal moment that steered him away from academia and towards the entrepreneurial path.

This path led to the co-founding of C-bridge, a company that pioneered B2B Internet solutions, marking Ron's first major foray into implementing his vision. His leadership helped propel C-bridge to impressive heights: from a bold startup to a public company with a valuation over $1 billion and 750 employees. As the CTO, Ron was instrumental in scaling the company, securing major clients like Chevron, Seagate, and Toyota, and driving it to a $100 million run rate. This experience was not just a business venture but a formative chapter in Ron's career, showcasing his ability to lead and innovate on a grand scale.

Through C-bridge, Ron honed his skills in guiding a tech company from its inception through to its IPO, navigating complex challenges and seizing strategic opportunities. This venture served as the foundation of his career, shaping his perspective on technology's role in business and setting the stage for his future endeavors.

AI Pioneer

Ron Bodkin's trajectory in the world of AI advanced significantly when he became Vice President of Engineering at Quantcast, a leader in applying AI in the digital advertising sphere. Here, Ron was pivotal in utilizing vast amounts of data to build machine learning models to create look-alike models for advertising, pushing forward the capabilities of predictive analytics and real-time ad optimizations. His leadership at Quantcast underscored the transformative impact of AI on business models and operational efficiency within large organizations.

Inspired by his successes and recognizing the broader applications of AI in enterprise settings, Ron founded Think Big Analytics. This venture focused on helping large corporations harness the potential of their data through strategic AI solutions. Think Big Analytics quickly became a beacon in the industry, guiding major enterprises in transforming their operations through data-driven decisions and AI integration. The company’s significant contributions to the AI and big data sectors culminated in an acquisition by Teradata, further validating the effectiveness and importance of Ron’s approach to applying AI in large-scale enterprise environments.

Breaking Free: Challenging Centralized AI

Ron's journey through Teradata marked his entry into the echelons of the most innovative companies leveraging AI. At Teradata, he was instrumental in assimilating Think Big Analytics' pioneering AI approaches into Teradata's broader data solutions, pushing the boundaries of what established big data companies could accomplish with advanced AI technologies. This experience not only deepened his expertise but also reinforced his position at the forefront of AI development.

However, it was during his tenure in the CTO Office at Google Cloud that Ron confronted the pivotal challenges of AI centralization. Surrounded by cutting-edge resources and some of the brightest minds in the field, he observed a recurring pattern where the power and potential of AI were predominantly controlled by a few. This insight was unsettling and sparked a profound reevaluation of his views on AI's future. Ron was passionate about advocating for a path for AI that was inclusive and broadly beneficial but instead saw a narrow focus on commercialization of the technology.

This epiphany brought Ron full circle to where he began—in AI research, but with a renewed purpose. He realized that the path to truly revolutionary AI wasn't just through advancing the technology under the aegis of a few but by enabling a broad community to participate in and shape its evolution. This realization rekindled his original passion for pushing the technology, setting the stage for a new chapter where he would advocate for a more open, accessible AI—ushering in a new era where AI could be a collective advancement rather than a centralized power.

Beneficial AI advocate

At the Vector Institute, Ron contributed to cutting-edge AI research, focusing on the development of deep learning technologies that could further the boundaries of AI's capabilities. This role allowed him to collaborate with leading AI researchers, including notable figures in the AI community. At Vector, his work centered on applying AI to real-world problems, striving to make AI both more effective and ethical, which aligned with his growing commitment to responsible AI development.

This also led him to the Schwartz Reisman Institute, where he deepened his involvement in the intersection of AI and society. Here, Ron focused on how technological advancements in AI could be governed and utilized to ensure positive societal impacts. The institute's commitment to studying and shaping the societal implications of AI resonated with Ron's vision of democratized technology, providing a platform to advocate for policies and frameworks that ensure AI developments benefit all segments of society, not just a few.

Redefining AI's Future with Theoriq

Armed with a renewed vision and profound insights from his research work at Vector and Schwartz Reisman Institutes, Ron brought together other co-founders - CTO Arnaud Flament, CPO David Mueller, and Head of Research Ethan Jackson, united with the idea of building the AI technology that serves humanity collectively, ensuring equitable access to innovation and fair recognition of contributions across the board. Together they embarked on another pioneering venture, one that is designed to transform the landscape of AI by decentralizing the power dynamics traditionally dominated by major tech corporations. The founders commitment to fostering a more inclusive and ethical AI ecosystem fueled the foundation of Theoriq, aiming to democratize access to AI technologies and empower a global community of innovators.

Theoriq is not just another AI company; it is a revolutionary platform designed to challenge the status quo of AI development. By leveraging a decentralized network, Theoriq enables independent developers, researchers, and smaller enterprises to contribute to and benefit from cutting-edge AI technologies without the need for large-scale corporate infrastructure. This approach ensures that advancements in AI are not only technically robust but also broadly accessible and driven by a community-oriented development model.

At the heart of Theoriq's innovative approach is its AI agent protocol, which facilitates a wide range of AI capabilities by allowing users to interact with and deploy AI agents across various applications and sectors. This protocol is designed to support scalable deployment and integration, ensuring that users can leverage AI tools effectively regardless of their technical background or business size. Theoriq’s AI agent protocol underscores the platform’s commitment to making AI as versatile and user-friendly as possible, promoting a future where AI is a common resource shared equitably across all sectors of society.

Closing remarks

Ron’s story isn’t just about technological achievements; it's about a steadfast commitment to ensuring that AI benefits everyone, not just a select few. With Theoriq, he aims to forge a future where AI is accessible and empowering, where every developer, researcher, and user has the tools to innovate and thrive. This isn't merely innovation; it's a movement to reshape the technology landscape, making it inclusive and equitable. Join us as we continue to innovate and democratize AI, paving the way for a future where technology serves all of humanity, not just a few monopolists. Together, we can build a world where AI is a tool for empowerment and a source of limitless potential.