DR. YANIV ALTSHULER
Artificial Intelligence Researcher

Yaniv
Altshuler

Theory-driven AI, decentralized systems, and real-world intelligence.
Researcher at the MIT Media Lab  ·  MIT Connection Science Fellow
Dr. Yaniv Altshuler
Overview

Artificial intelligence from first principles to real-world systems.

I am a researcher at the MIT Media Lab and an MIT Connection Science Fellow.

For over two decades, my work has focused on the research and development of Artificial Intelligence, with an emphasis on the rigorous theoretical foundations of decentralized and scalable AI systems. My goal is to uncover new insights that advance the performance, robustness, and real-world deployment of AI technologies.

I have published three books on the theory and applications of Artificial Intelligence, along with over 80 scientific papers and more than 20 patents.

In 2022, I founded Alphabiome.ai, where we are building a new representation layer for AI in biology. Rather than starting from existing annotations or known reference biology, our approach learns directly from raw genetic data. By analyzing trillions of sequence fragments, we have built an engine designed to identify structure and predictive signal in biology before it has been named, annotated, or catalogued - making previously unknown biology readable by AI.

Research statement

Decentralized, scalable, and robust AI.

My research focuses on developing innovative Artificial Intelligence systems that enable transformative breakthroughs across a wide range of domains, including finance, national security, transportation, and the life sciences. I take a rigorous, theory-driven approach to the design of decentralized and scalable AI architectures, aiming to uncover new principles that enhance both the performance and reliability of AI in complex real-world settings.

At the core of my work is a commitment to building AI systems that are not only powerful, but also robust, scalable, and useful in the real world. By combining foundational insights with practical impact, I strive to advance the field of AI while contributing to solutions that are scientifically meaningful and enduring.

Featured research

Current work

2026 · Multi-agent systems · Coordination

Minimal Coordination Codex for AI Agents

A dialogue on humans, agents, symbiosis, and morality that evolved into a proposal for a minimal coordination artifact: three meta-laws intended to remain useful even among autonomous agents that do not share goals, values, or trust.

Explore the Codex →
Canonical record

The canonical English text was frozen and inscribed on the Bitcoin blockchain, with a companion technical note describing the rationale and provenance mechanism.

Read · Verify · Cite
Teaching

Professional teaching experience

Courses and project-based teaching

As a lecturer, I have taught Introduction to Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Computability Theory, Digital Systems Design, Algorithms in Graph Theory, and Data Structures, alongside project-based work in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Image Processing.

Books

My books

Cover of Swarms and Network Intelligence in Search
Book

Swarms and Network Intelligence in Search (2018)

Cover of Applied Swarm Intelligence
Book

Applied Swarm Intelligence (2025)

Cover of Security and Privacy in Social Networks
Book

Security and Privacy in Social Networks (2013)

Publications

Scientific work

Journal Papers 23
Crypto-asset trading on top of Ethereum Blockchain comprehensive dataset
S. Somin, Y. Altshuler, A. Pentland · Scientific Data (Nature), 2025
AI-driven precision agriculture for enteric methane mitigation: cross-farm validation with an essential oil-based feed additive
Y. Altshuler, T. Chebach, S. Cohen, J. Gatica · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 2025
Assessing the methane-mitigating effects of feed additives on dairy cows: validation of an AI-based predictive model using a Monensin feed additive
Y. Altshuler, T. Chebach, S. Cohen, J. Gatica · Animal Feed Science and Technology, 2025
Validation of a rumen microbiome-based AI model as a predictive tool for assessing the efficacy of feed additives in reducing enteric methane emissions
Y. Altshuler, T. Chebach, S. Cohen, J. Gatica · Climate Smart Agriculture, 2025
Patterns of User Behavior and Token Adoption on ERC20
A.J. Morales, S. Somin, Y. Altshuler, A. Pentland · SN Computer Science, 2023
Recent Developments in the Theory and Applicability of Swarm Search
Y. Altshuler · Entropy, 2023
Remaining Popular: Power-law Regularities in Network Dynamics
S. Somin, Y. Altshuler, A. Pentland, E. Shmueli · EPJ Data Science, 2022
Beyond Preferential Attachment: Falling of Stars and Survival of Superstars
S. Somin, Y. Altshuler, A. Pentland, E. Shmueli · Royal Society Open Science, 2022
DNN Intellectual Property Extraction Using Composite Data
I. Mosafi, E. David, Y. Altshuler, N. Netanyahu · Entropy, 2022
Network Dynamics of a Financial Ecosystem
S. Somin, Y. Altshuler, G. Gordon, A. Pentland, E. Shmueli · Scientific Reports (Nature), 2020
Modeling and Prediction of Ride Sharing Utilization Dynamics
T. Altshuler, Y. Altshuler, R. Katoshevski, Y. Shiftan · Journal of Advanced Transportation, 2019
Campaign Optimization through Behavioral Modeling and Mobile Network Analysis
Y. Altshuler, E. Shmueli, G. Zyskind, O. Lederman, N. Oliver, A. Pentland · IEEE Transactions on Computational Social Systems, 2014
Prospect Theory for Online Financial Trading
Y.Y. Liu, J.C. Nacher, T. Ochiai, M. Martino, Y. Altshuler · PLOS ONE, 2014
The Social Amplifier – Reaction of Human Communities to Emergencies
Y. Altshuler, M. Fire, E. Shmueli, Y. Elovici, A. Bruckstein, A. Pentland, D. Lazer · Journal of Statistical Physics, 2013
Augmented Betweenness Centrality for Environmentally-Aware Traffic Monitoring in Transportation Networks
R. Puzis, Y. Altshuler, Y. Elovici, S. Bekhor, Y. Shiftan, A. Pentland · Journal of Intelligent Transportation Systems, 2013
Stealing Reality: When Criminals Become Data Scientists (or Vice Versa)
Y. Altshuler, N. Aharony, Y. Elovici, A. Pentland, M. Cebrian · IEEE Intelligent Systems, 2011
Static and Expanding Grid Coverage with Ant Robots: Complexity Results
Y. Altshuler, A. Bruckstein · Theoretical Computer Science (TCS), 2011
Multi-agent Cooperative Cleaning of Expanding Domains
Y. Altshuler, V. Yanovski, I. Wagner, A. Bruckstein · International Journal of Robotic Research, 2010
Cooperative Cleaners: A Study in Ant Robotics
I. Wagner, Y. Altshuler, V. Yanovski, A. Bruckstein · International Journal of Robotic Research, 2008
Efficient Cooperative Search of Smart Targets Using UAV Swarms
Y. Altshuler, V. Yanovsky, I. A. Wagner, A. M. Bruckstein · Robotica, 26(4):551–557, 2008
Workforce Optimization: Identification and Assignment of Professional Workers Using Constraint Programming
Y. Naveh, Y. Richter, Y. Altshuler, D. Gresh, D. Connors · IBM Journal of R&D, 2007
Multi-agent Physical A* with Large Pheromones
A. Felner, Y. Shoshani, Y. Altshuler, A. Bruckstein · Journal of Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems, 2006
A Novel Linear Coder Nomenclature for Complex Carbohydrates
E. Banin, Y. Neuberger, Y. Altshuler, A. Halevi, O. Inbar, N. Dotan, A. Dukler · Trends in Glycoscience and Glycotechnology, 2002
Preprints & Research Notes 1
Book Chapters 6
Network Dynamics of a Tokenized Financial Ecosystem
S. Somin, G. Gordon, A. Pentland, E. Shmueli, Y. Altshuler · Building the New Economy (MIT Press), 2020
Social Physics and Cybercrime
Y. Altshuler, A. Pentland · Solution for Cybersecurity (MIT Press), 2018
Campaign Optimization through Mobility Network Analysis
Y. Altshuler, E. Shmueli, G. Zyskind, O. Lederman, N. Oliver, A. Pentland · Geo-Intelligence and Visualization through Big Data Trends, Advances in Geospatial Technologies (AGT) Book Series, 2015
On the Rationality and Optimality of Transportation Networks Defense — a Network Centrality Approach
Y. Altshuler, R. Puzis, Y. Elovici, S. Bekhor, A. Pentland · Securing Transportation Systems, Protecting Critical Infrastructures Series, Wiley, 2014
TTLed RandomWalks for Collaborative Monitoring in Mobile and Social Networks
Y. Altshuler, S. Dolev, Y. Elovici · Handbook of Optimization in Complex Networks, Springer, 2012
Swarm Intelligence – Searchers, Cleaners and Hunters
Y. Altshuler, I. Wagner, V. Yanovski, A. Bruckstein · Studies in Computational Intelligence, Springer, 2006
Refereed Conference Papers 36
Node Ranking Dynamics: Non Preferential Patterns
S. Somin, Y. Altshuler, A. Pentland, E. Shmueli · IC2S2, 2023
Non Preferential Node Ranking Dynamics
S. Somin, Y. Altshuler, A. Pentland, E. Shmueli · NetSci, 2023
Non-Monotonic Dynamics in Node Ranking
S. Somin, Y. Altshuler, A. Pentland, E. Shmueli · Complex Networks, 2022
Non Preferential Patterns in Node Ranking Dynamics
S. Somin, Y. Altshuler, A. Pentland, E. Shmueli · NetSci, 2022
Ethereum Blockchain: A Network Perspective
S. Somin, Y. Altshuler, G. Gordon, A. Pentland, E. Shmueli · NetSci, 2020
ERC20 Transactions over Ethereum Blockchain: Network Analysis and Predictions
S. Somin, G. Gordon, A. Pentland, E. Shmueli, Y. Altshuler · International Conference on Social Computing, Behavioral-Cultural Modeling & Prediction (SBP), 2020
COVID-19 Outbreak Week-by-Week Prediction
Y. Altshuler, A. Pentland · NetSci, 2020
Detecting Bot Activity in the Ethereum Blockchain Network
M. Zwang, S. Somin, A. Pentland, Y. Altshuler · NetSci, 2019
Network Dynamics of a Financial Ecosystem
S. Somin, Y. Altshuler, G. Gordon, E. Shmueli, A. Pentland · NetSci, 2019
Network Analysis of ERC20 Tokens Trading on Ethereum Blockchain
S. Somin, G. Gordon, Y. Altshuler · International Conference on Complex Systems, 2018
Using Social Physics to Predict Consumer Behavior
Y. Altshuler, A. Boehme · NetSci, 2017
Social Behavior Bias and Knowledge Management Optimization
Y. Altshuler, A. Pentland, G. Gordon · SBP, 2015
Ride Sharing: A Network Perspective
E. Shmueli, I. Mazeh, L. Radaelli, A. Pentland, Y. Altshuler · SBP, 2015
Network Tuning
Y. Altshuler, A. Pentland · NetSci, 2015
From Individual Knowledge Management to Social Information Flow
Y. Altshuler, A. Pentland, G. Gordon · NetSci, 2015
Ride Sharing: A Network Perspective
E. Shmueli, I. Mazeh, A. Pentland, T. Altshuler, Y. Altshuler · NetSci, 2015
Mobile Phones for On-Demand Public Transportation
T. Altshuler, Y. Shiftan, R. Katoshevski, N. Oliver, A. Pentland, Y. Altshuler · NetSci, 2014
A Generative Model for Evolving Scale-Free Networks
E. Shmueli, Y. Altshuler, A. Pentland · NetSci, 2014
Wisdom of the Network
E. Shmueli, D. Margolin, Y. Altshuler, A. Pentland, D. Lazer · NetSci, 2014
Temporal Dynamics of Scale-Free Networks
E. Shmueli, Y. Altshuler, A. Pentland · SBP, 2014
Detecting Anomalous Behaviors Using Structural Properties of Social Networks
Y. Altshuler, M. Fire, E. Shmueli, Y. Elovici, A. Bruckstein, A. Pentland, D. Lazer · SBP, 2013
Trade-offs in Social and Behavioral Modeling in Mobile Networks
Y. Altshuler, M. Fire, N. Aharony, Z. Volkovich, Y. Elovici, A. Pentland · SBP, 2013
Decoding Social Influence and the Wisdom of the Crowd in Financial Trading Network
W. Pan, Y. Altshuler, A. Pentland · IEEE Social Computing, 2012
Trends Prediction Using Social Diffusion Models
Y. Altshuler, W. Pan, A. Pentland · SBP, 2012
How Many Makes a Crowd? On the Correlation between Groups' Size and the Accuracy of Modeling
Y. Altshuler, M. Fire, E. Shmueli, Y. Elovici, A. Bruckstein, A. Pentland, D. Lazer · SBP, 2013
Trends Prediction Using Social Diffusion Models
Y. Altshuler, W. Pan, A. Pentland · NetSci, 2012
Real World Anomalous Events Detection Based on Social Signals in Mobile Networks Traffic
F. Pereira, Y. Altshuler · NetSci, 2012
Decoding Social Influence in Speculation from Social Trading
W. Pan, Y. Altshuler, A. Pentland · NetSci, 2012
Traffic Assignment Model Based on Betweenness
R. Puzis, Y. Altshuler, Y. Elovici, S. Bekhor, Y. Shiftan, A. Pentland · NetSci, 2012
The Complexity of Grid Coverage by Swarm Robotics
Y. Altshuler, A.M. Bruckstein · ANTS (International Conference on Swarm Intelligence), 2010
Collaborative Exploration in Grid Domains
Y. Altshuler, I. Wagner, A. Bruckstein · ICINCO, 2009
Swarm Ant Robotics for a Dynamic Cleaning Problem - Upper Bounds
Y. Altshuler, V. Yanovski, I. Wagner, A. Bruckstein · ICARA, 2009
Swarm Ant Robotics for a Dynamic Cleaning Problem - Analytic Lower Bounds and Impossibility Results
Y. Altshuler, V. Yanovski, I. Wagner, A. Bruckstein · ICARA, 2009
On Minimal Perimeter Polyminoes
Y. Altshuler, V. Yanovski, D. Vainsencher, I. Wagner, A. Bruckstein · Discrete Geometry for Computational Imagery, 2006
On the Complexity of Physical Problems and a Swarm Algorithm for k-Clique Search in Physical Graph
Y. Altshuler, A. Matsliah, A. Felner · ECCS, 2005
Swarm Robotics for a Dynamic Cleaning Problem
Y. Altshuler, I. Wagner, A. Bruckstein · IEEE Swarm Intelligence Symposium, 2005
Refereed Workshop Papers 23
Temporal Dynamics in Networks: Second Order Power-Law Phenomena
S. Somin, A. Pentland, S. Shmueli, Y. Altshuler · Conference on Digital Experimentation (CODE), 2020
Dynamic Equilibrations of ERC20
S. Somin, G. Gordon, A. Pentland, Y. Altshuler · Conference on Digital Experimentation (CODE), 2018
Anomalies in the Ethereum Blockchain Network
M. Zwang, S. Somin, A. Pentland, Y. Altshuler · Conference on Digital Experimentation (CODE), 2018
From Individual Knowledge Management to Social Information Flow
Yaniv Altshuler, Alex Pentland, Goren Gordon · ICCSS, 2015
The Network Dimension of Ride Sharing
Tal Altshuler, Yoram Shiftan, Rachel Katoshevski, Nuria Oliver, Alex Pentland, Erez Shmueli, Yaniv Altshuler · ICCSS, 2015
Campaign Optimization through Mobility Network Analysis
Y. Altshuler, E. Shmueli, G. Zyskind, O. Lederman, N. Oliver, A. Pentland · NetMob, 2015
Dynamics of Scale-Free Networks
E. Shmueli, Y. Altshuler, A. Pentland · Workshop on Information in Networks (WIN), 2013
Accurate Decision Making in Social Networks
Y. Altshuler, A. Pentland · NetSci, 2013
Temporal Percolation in Scale-Free Networks
E. Shmueli, Y. Altshuler, A. Pentland · NetSci, 2013
The Social Amplifier – Reaction of Human Communities to Emergencies
Y. Altshuler, M. Fire, E. Shmueli, Y. Elovici, A. Bruckstein, A. Pentland, D. Lazer · NetMob, 2013
Trends Prediction in Social Networks Using Influence Diffusion Models
Y. Altshuler, W. Pan, A. Pentland · Interdisciplinary Workshop on Decisions in Networks (WIDS), 2012
Incremental Learning with Accuracy Prediction of Social and Individual Properties from Mobile-Phone Data
Y. Altshuler, N. Aharony, M. Fire, Y. Elovici, A. Pentland · WS3P, IEEE Social Computing, 2012
Information Flow in Networks: Trendsetters, Bellwethers and Shepherd Dogs
Y. Altshuler, N. Aharony, Y. Elovici, A. Pentland, M. Cebrian · Workshop on Information in Networks (WIN), 2011
Stealing Reality: When Criminals Become Data Scientists
Y. Altshuler, A. Pentland · Workshop on Information in Networks (WIN), 2011
Augmented Betweenness Centrality for Mobility Prediction in Transportation Networks
Y. Altshuler, R. Puzis, Y. Elovici, S. Bekhor, A. Pentland · Finding Patterns of Human Behaviors in Network and Mobility Data (NEMO), 2011
Stealing Reality
Y. Altshuler, N. Aharony, M. Cebrian, Y. Elovici, A. Pentland · Workshop on Information in Networks (WIN), 2010
Efficient Collaborative Application Monitoring Scheme for Mobile Networks
Y. Altshuler, S. Dolev, Y. Elovici, N. Aharony · Analysis of Mobile Phone Networks, NetMob (in NetSci), 2010
TTLed Random Walks for Collaborative Monitoring
Y. Altshuler, S. Dolev, Y. Elovici, N. Aharony · NetSciCom (in IEEE INFOCOM), 2010
To Add With Caution - Decreasing a Swarm Robotics' Efficiency by Imprudently Enhancing the Robots' Capabilities
Y. Altshuler, I. Wagner, A. Bruckstein · ICINCO (MARS Workshop), 2007
Ant - Swarm Robotics for a Dynamic Cleaning Problem
Y. Altshuler, I. Wagner, V. Yanovski, A. Bruckstein · ROBOMAT, 2007
Shape Factor's Effect on a Dynamic Cleaners Swarm
Y. Altshuler, I. Wagner, A. Bruckstein · ICINCO (MARS Workshop), 2006
On Swarm Optimality in Dynamic and Symmetric Environments
Y. Altshuler, I. Wagner, A. Bruckstein · ICINCO (MARS Workshop), 2005
The Cooperative Hunters - Efficient Cooperative Search for Smart Targets Using UAV Swarms
Y. Altshuler, I. Wagner, V. Yanovski, A. Bruckstein · ICINCO (MARS Workshop), 2005
No publications match this search.
Intellectual property

Patent applications

  • Large Genetic Model (LGM) for Universal Genomic Prediction and Classification
  • Detection of Cross-Chromosomal Biomarkers from Groups of DNA and RNA Sequences in Human Genome
  • Efficient Unsupervised Detection of Dominant k-mers in Genomic and Microbiome Data
  • Scalable Detection of Decentralized Genetic Biomarkers in Human Microbial Data
  • Efficient Detection of Decentralized Biomarkers of Groups of DNA Sequences in Microbiome DNA
  • Systems and methods for secure prediction using an encrypted query executed based on encrypted data
  • Dynamic Meta-Communities
  • System and Method for Network Stabilization Prediction
  • Methods and apparatus for prediction and modification of behavior in networks
  • Methods and apparatus for tuning a network for optimal performance
  • A system for fault tolerant collaborative identification of malicious applications in a communication network
  • System and method for efficient collaborative identification of malicious applications in a communication network
  • Apparatus and Method for Targeted Advertisement
  • Prediction and Inducement of Dynamic Users Behaviors in Computer Games
  • Reliable, efficient and low cost method for game audio rendering
  • Method and System for Representing Game Data in a Generic Form
  • Selection System for Gaming
  • Technological Platform for Interactive Gaming
  • System and Method for a Gaming Community
  • Method and Computer Program Product for Job Selection and Resource Allocation of a Massively Parallel Processor
  • Method and System for Optimizing Performance through Stochastic Change
  • Method and System for Optimizing Quality of Service over a Data Network
  • System and Method for Dynamically Optimizing TCP Windows Size
Contact

Dr. Yaniv Altshuler

77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139-4307, USA

MIT Media Lab  ·  Alphabiome.ai