New Delhi: Manohar Paluri spent 14 years at Meta, advancing from a computer vision researcher to a vice president overseeing artificial intelligence. Now, the IIIT Hyderabad alumnus is embarking on a new professional endeavor focused on applying AI and robotics to accelerate pharmaceutical research.
His newly established venture, Warp Sciences, has successfully secured $215 million in funding. This development marks a significant transition for Paluri, whose career has centered on computer vision, robotics, and artificial intelligence.
Paluri earned his Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science from the International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad in 2006. He initially worked at Sarnoff Innovative Technology on computer vision tasks such as object tracking, video analysis, and automated cinematography. He subsequently moved to the United States to pursue postgraduate education at the Georgia Institute of Technology, concentrating on computer vision and robotics. His research background also includes positions at IBM Watson Labs and a stint as a research intern working on 3D mapping at Google.
In 2012, Paluri joined Meta, operating then as Facebook, as a computer vision researcher. Over the course of 14 years, he advanced through leadership roles, becoming a director of artificial intelligence in 2015, a senior director in 2021, and ultimately a vice president in 2024. His responsibilities bridged fundamental AI research and consumer applications across Meta's suite of digital platforms, cementing his executive standing at a major technology firm.
Paluri has transitioned to Warp Sciences in the role of co-founder and chief technology officer. The startup is structured to integrate artificial intelligence and robotics into the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors, assisting companies in expediting the identification and development of novel therapeutics.
Pharmaceutical discovery is traditionally an intricate and prolonged undertaking defined by extensive experimentation and analysis. By deploying AI systems alongside automated laboratory robotics, the enterprise aims to streamline analytical workloads and reduce development timelines.
The broader ambition centers on channeling advanced technology into concrete scientific applications where accelerated research methods can yield tangible impacts. Paluri's career path illustrates a progression from an engineering foundation in Hyderabad to prominent research labs in the United States, an extensive executive tenure at Meta, and now entrepreneurship.
The primary objective for Paluri and his team will be translating decades of accumulated technical expertise, alongside the substantial capital raised by Warp Sciences, into meaningful scientific advancements.