Leo and his co-founders set out to build a true Artificial Mind, and they have stayed on that path for well over a decade.

Most of the AI industry bets on scale: bigger models, more data, more compute. Mind Simulation Lab (MSL) took the opposite route and chose an engineering-first approach, designing cognitive architectures from the ground up.

The result is Embryo, MSL's core AGI architecture: modular, transparent, highly scalable, and structurally more reliable than conventional generative systems. The team doesn't just train models. It engineers minds.

Leo is an expert in AI behavior, cognitive architectures, and enterprise AI integration. He regularly comments on the future of AGI and the deep shifts reshaping the technology landscape.

Areas of expertise (for press inquiries):

• The path to AGI: engineering vs. raw compute
• Cognitive AI architectures and system reliability
• Generative AI behavior: hallucinations, safety, and system prompts
• Bootstrapping deep-tech startups: balancing research and commercial success

Selected recent media mentions:

Leo Derikiants is the co-founder and CEO of Mind Simulation Lab (MSL). For more than 15 years, he and his co-founders have pursued one of technology's ultimate frontiers: building a true Artificial Mind. Leo champions an engineering-first approach to AGI that moves beyond the industry's reliance on raw compute. Under his leadership, the team developed Embryo, a modular and transparent cognitive architecture built for structural reliability.

After a proof-of-concept demo went viral, showing an interactive AI character inside The Witcher 3, Leo led the creation of STEOS. Today STEOS is a profitable, bootstrapped AI ecosystem with more than 2 million users in 40 countries. By combining commercial success with fundamental research, Leo has built a self-sustaining engine for AGI development.

A recognized expert in AI behavior and architecture, Leo is frequently quoted in leading business and technology publications, including Fortune.

Whether you're a journalist looking for expert commentary on the AI industry or a company exploring a partnership, we'd be glad to hear from you.

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