Mozilla has announced the appointment of Raffi Krikorian as its first-ever portfolio-wide Chief Technology Officer. Krikorian, a seasoned technologist and innovator, will report to Mozilla President Mark Surman and will play a crucial role in coordinating efforts across Mozilla’s diverse family of organizations. His appointment comes at a critical juncture for AI development, with a focus on building trustworthy and open-source AI solutions.
Key Takeaways
- Raffi Krikorian appointed as Mozilla’s first Chief Technology Officer.
- Focus on developing trustworthy and open-source AI.
- Krikorian brings extensive experience from tech, politics, media, and philanthropy.
- Mozilla aims to counter the concentration of AI development in a few large companies.
A New Era for Mozilla’s Technology Leadership
Mozilla is embarking on a new chapter with the appointment of Raffi Krikorian as its Chief Technology Officer. In this newly created role, Krikorian will oversee technology strategy across the entire Mozilla ecosystem. He will work collaboratively with existing technical leaders, including those at Firefox and Thunderbird, to drive innovation and ensure that Mozilla’s technological advancements align with its core values.
Addressing the AI Landscape
Krikorian joins Mozilla at a time when artificial intelligence development is increasingly consolidated within a small number of major corporations. Mozilla aims to counter this trend by championing the development of AI that is transparent, participatory, and trustworthy. Krikorian’s mandate includes leading Mozilla’s initiatives to create AI technologies that users can understand and control, rather than accepting opaque and controlling systems.
Krikorian’s Impressive Background
Krikorian brings a wealth of experience from diverse sectors. Previously, he served as the CTO at Emerson Collective, where he focused on integrating technologists into fields such as education, environmentalism, and economic mobility. He also hosted the "Technically Optimistic" podcast and Substack, exploring technology’s societal impact. His prior roles include being the first CTO of the U.S. Democratic National Committee, leading the development of Uber’s first self-driving car fleet at its Advanced Technologies Center, and managing global infrastructure as Vice President of Platform Engineering at Twitter.
Commitment to Openness and Trust
Krikorian has already been actively involved with Mozilla, serving on the Mozilla Foundation Board of Directors since 2023, Mozilla.ai’s Board since 2024, and the Mozilla.org Board since its inception. He expressed his enthusiasm for the role, stating, "We don’t just need critiques on how AI is being built — we need real, working alternatives. Mozilla is one of the few places that can actually do that." He emphasized Mozilla’s unique position to build technology that embodies values of transparency, openness, participation, and trust.
Mozilla Welcomes Raffi Krikorian as Chief Technology Officer
- Mozilla Welcomes Raffi Krikorian as Chief Technology Officer, The Mozilla Blog.
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