Emad Mostaque Founder of Stability.AI

Early Life and Education

Born on April 17, 1983, in Jordan to a Bengali Muslim family, Mostaque’s early childhood was marked by movement. He was taken to Dhaka, Bangladesh, a month after his birth, and migrated with his family to the United Kingdom at the age of seven. He went on to study at the University of Oxford, where he earned an MA in mathematics and computer science. Mostaque has been diagnosed with Asperger’s and ADHD.

Career Path

After graduating from Oxford, Mostaque spent over a decade in finance, working as a hedge fund manager and strategist. During this period, he managed portfolios focused on global, emerging, and frontier markets, and advised Middle Eastern governments on structural market shifts and technology trends.

Founding Stability AI

Mostaque’s path to AI was deeply personal. His real interest in AI came when his son was diagnosed with autism, and he wanted to see how AI could help to review existing research and detect commonalities.

In 2019, he founded Symmitree, a startup aimed at reducing technology costs for people living in poverty, though the project ultimately failed.

In late 2020, Emad Mostaque co-founded Stability AI with Cyrus Hodes. The company’s mission centered on developing open-source AI models accessible to everyone. Stability AI’s breakthrough came in August 2022 with the release of Stable Diffusion, an open-source text-to-image model that democratized AI image generation and sparked widespread discussion about creativity, art, and AI’s role in society.

Controversies and Departure

Mostaque’s tenure at Stability AI was not without controversy. In 2023, reports emerged questioning claims about his educational background, technical involvement in Stable Diffusion’s development, and partnerships with various organizations. Additionally, co-founder Cyrus Hodes filed a civil lawsuit claiming he was defrauded into selling his 15% stake for $100, though the company disputed these allegations.

On March 23, 2024, Mostaque resigned from his position as CEO of Stability AI and from his seat on the company’s board of directors, stating he left the company to pursue decentralized AI initiatives, though reports suggested investor pressure played a role in his departure.

Legacy and Vision

Despite the controversies, Mostaque remains a prominent voice in AI advocacy, particularly around open-source development and democratized access to AI technology. His vision of AI as infrastructure for humanity and his commitment to open models have influenced ongoing debates about how AI technology should be developed and shared globally.