PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

Shuai Li

Also known as Steven Li

Shuai Li is a robotics researcher whose work applies AI, neural networks and optimization to control. He coauthored the Beetle Antennae Search algorithm and IndRNN, then a machine-learning paper on detecting moon phases. A 2024 study he coauthored used ChatGPT to develop adaptive BAS variants, and a 2025 paper he coauthored introduced an iterative policy for controlling deformable objects; he became an IEEE Fellow in 2026. He is a full professor in the University of Oulu's Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering and an adjunct professor at VTT; he has worked at Oulu since 2023 and researches nonlinear optimization and intelligent control for robotics.

Born
1983
Works
716

Years link to their sources. Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 22 October 2026. Citations and h-index are hidden because this OpenAlex record may be incomplete or mix in other authors.

Timeline

  1. 2017

    Beetle Antennae Search

    In 2017, Shuai Li and Xiangyuan Jiang propose the Beetle Antennae Search (BAS) algorithm, inspired by longhorn beetles.

  2. 2018

    Independent recurrent neurons

    In 2018, he coauthors the independently recurrent neural network (IndRNN), whose neurons operate independently within each layer and connect across layers.

  3. 2022

    A moon-phase detection algorithm

    In 2022, he coauthors Sunfa Ata Zuyan (SAZ), a machine-learning algorithm for detecting moon phases from images.

  4. By 2023

    Three engineering degrees

    By 2023, he holds a bachelor's degree in precision mechanical engineering from Hefei University of Technology, a master's in automatic control engineering from the University of Science and Technology of China, and a PhD in electrical and computer engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology.

  5. 2024

    ChatGPT-guided BAS variants

    In 2024, he coauthors a study that uses ChatGPT to develop Adaptive Beetle Antennae Search and Adaptive Feedback Beetle Antennae Search. The team tests the variants on AI-suggested benchmark functions.

  6. 2025

    A deformable-object control policy

    In 2025, he coauthors a paper that introduces an online iterative perception policy (IPP) for controlling deformable objects without large-scale deep-network training.

  7. 2026

    IEEE Fellow grade

    He receives IEEE Fellow grade in 2026 for contributions to neural networks for intelligent system modeling, learning and optimization.

  8. Since 2023

    Professor at Oulu and VTT

    In June 2023, he assumes a joint professorship in Technologies for Autonomous Manufacturing at VTT and the University of Oulu. He is a full professor in Oulu's Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering and an adjunct professor at VTT-Technology Research Center of Finland; he has been employed at Oulu since 2023. His research interests include nonlinear optimization and intelligent control with applications to robotics.

Career

  1. Since 2023University of OuluFull Professor
  2. Since 2023Ministry of Economic Affairs and EmploymentAdjunct Professor

Education

  1. Hefei University of TechnologyBachelor's degree in precision mechanical engineering
  2. University of Science and Technology of ChinaMaster's degree in automatic control engineering
  3. Stevens Institute of TechnologyPhD in electrical and computer engineering

From the biography.

  1. More people shaping AI studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than at any other institutionIncludes Massachusetts Institute of Technology. We estimate where the people shaping AI studied and where their careers led. Massachusetts Institute of Technology leads with 467 former students, including 291 recorded doctorates.
  2. The company share of AI researchers’ top papers was 31% in 2020–2024 and 8% in 1970–1974Includes University of Oulu. We estimate where the people shaping AI worked when their most-cited papers appeared: the company share was 31% in 2020–2024 and 8% in 1970–1974, and Google led all organizations in 2020–2024.
  3. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology trained or employed 44 of the 187 AI major-prize winners, more than any other universityIncludes Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology trained or employed 44 of the 187 AI major-prize winners, more than any other university. We compare doctorate and 5+ year employment links, career timing and current workplaces for 187 major-prize and 1,111 best-paper winners.
  4. Google had the most people shaping AI every year from 2014 to 2025Includes Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Our estimates of which organizations employed the most people shaping AI each year from 1955 to 2025, tracing the shift from university labs to companies.

Colleagues

People with dated positions at the same organization in the same years.

Sources and credits

Photo: We have no published photo of Shuai Li yet. Send us a free-licensed photo.

  1. [1710.10724] BAS: Beetle Antennae Search Algorithm for Optimization Problems arxiv.org. Checked 22 October 2026.
  2. [1803.04831] Independently Recurrent Neural Network (IndRNN): Building A Longer and Deeper RNN arxiv.org. Checked 22 October 2026.
  3. Sunfa Ata Zuyan machine learning models for moon phase detection: algorithm, prototype and performance comparison telkomnika.uad.ac.id. Checked 22 October 2026.
  4. Garuda - Garba Rujukan Digital garuda.kemdiktisaintek.go.id. Checked 22 October 2026.
  5. RNN-Based Control of Robotic Systems with Various Constraints conference.cs.cityu.edu.hk. Checked 22 October 2026.
  6. We succeed together: How Assistant Professor Jianan Huang and Professor Shuai Li secured highly competitive EIC funding oulu.fi. Checked 22 October 2026.
  7. Beetle antennae search reimagined: leveraging ChatGPT’s AI to forge new frontiers in optimization algorithms researchprofiles.ku.dk. Checked 22 October 2026.
  8. Online Iterative Learning Enhanced Sim-to-Real Transfer for Efficient Manipulation of Deformable Objects cris.vtt.fi. Checked 22 October 2026.
  9. IEEE Computer Society Announces 2026 Class of Fellows computer.org. Checked 22 October 2026.
  10. AI redefining autonomous manufacturing: VTT and University of Oulu appoint Shuai Li as joint professor oulu.fi. Checked 22 October 2026.
  11. Shuai Li | University of Oulu oulu.fi. Checked 22 October 2026.