Roni Gurvich - AI Leader & Innovator

Roni Gurvich - AI Leader & Innovator

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About Me

I am Head of AI at Cycode, leading a team that’s revolutionizing application security through intelligent automation. My passion lies in spearheading the development of innovative ML/AI-powered products that solve real-world business problems and create lasting competitive advantages.

With over a decade of experience in AI and machine learning, I have a proven track record of building and scaling highly performing ML teams in both startup and big tech environments. My work spans from early-stage innovation to enterprise-scale AI deployments that impact millions of users.

Notable Achievements

  • At Cycode: Leading the AI team in developing breakthrough security solutions including AI Exploitability Agents, AI Teammates, and Material Code Change Alerting that are transforming how organizations approach application security. Our AI innovations are helping customers reduce security incidents by up to 75% while improving team productivity by 3x.

  • At Shopify: Led the Product Understanding team in building ML-powered data assets that became the foundation for Shop App and Shop AI, enabling intelligent product discovery and conversational commerce. These AI systems now power product discovery for millions of merchants and shoppers worldwide.

  • At Donde Search: Led R&D efforts including ML and engineering teams, collaborating closely to construct ML-powered discovery solutions for online stores. These efforts ultimately led to the company’s acquisition by Shopify, demonstrating the strategic value of AI innovation.

  • Research Contributions: Contributing to breakthrough research in AI-powered medical applications, including Peptriever, an AI-powered protein binding search engine that accelerates drug discovery. Our open-source contributions are advancing AI capabilities in critical healthcare domains.

Leadership Philosophy

Building High-Performing AI Teams

Transparency, direct communication, and collaboration lie at the core of my leadership approach. I place great importance on effectively communicating complex ML concepts to diverse stakeholders, while also adeptly translating business requirements into actionable AI strategies. By closely collaborating with cross-functional teams, I foster an environment conducive to successful product development.

Innovation Through Technical Excellence

I possess a keen interest in exploring emerging ML/AI technologies, continuously seeking new opportunities to apply them in novel ways. By maintaining a hands-on approach and staying up-to-date with the latest advancements in the field, I bridge the gap between technical challenges and business needs.

Trust-Based Team Dynamics

To maintain a high level of engagement and productivity within my team, I prioritize building a foundation of trust and setting clear expectations regarding the desired impact of our products. I firmly believe that these elements are vital to nurturing a motivated and successful team dynamic.

Current Focus: AI-Powered Application Security

As Head of AI at Cycode, I’m leading the development of next-generation security solutions that leverage artificial intelligence to:

  • Automate Risk Assessment: AI agents that understand context and prioritize real threats
  • Enable Proactive Security: Systems that detect and prevent security issues before they become problems
  • Scale Security Operations: Intelligent automation that makes security teams more effective
  • Transform Compliance: AI-powered insights that strengthen security posture and audit readiness

Our AI innovations are helping organizations move faster while staying secure, demonstrating that security can be a competitive advantage rather than a bottleneck.

Areas of Expertise

  • AI Leadership: Building and scaling AI teams in high-growth environments, leading breakthrough innovations at Cycode, and driving strategic AI initiatives that create lasting business value
  • Application Security: AI-powered vulnerability detection and risk assessment, with proven results in reducing security incidents and improving team productivity
  • Machine Learning Engineering: Building production ML systems at scale, from early-stage prototypes to enterprise deployments impacting millions of users
  • Product Strategy: Translating AI capabilities into business value, with track record of successful AI product launches and strategic business outcomes
  • Research & Innovation: Advancing AI applications in critical domains, contributing to breakthrough research, and maintaining cutting-edge technical expertise
  • Team Building: Creating high-performing, collaborative AI organizations that consistently deliver innovative solutions and drive business transformation

Get In Touch

I’m always interested in connecting with fellow AI practitioners, security professionals, and technology leaders. Whether you want to discuss AI strategy, explore collaboration opportunities, or learn more about our work at Cycode, I’d love to hear from you.