PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

Yoky Matsuoka

Also known as 松岡陽子

Yoky Matsuoka is a researcher and executive whose work spans neuroscience, robotics and machine learning. A Tokyo native, she moved to the U.S. at 16 and earned degrees from Berkeley and MIT. The MacArthur Foundation named her a Fellow in 2007, for work that combines neuroscience and robotics to create more realistic prosthetics. At Nest she was in charge of machine learning and UX, and in 2017 she returned as chief technology officer. She later served as CEO of PanasonicWELL, where she announced the Umi family wellness platform and an Anthropic partnership at CES 2025, and she has been an independent director at Analog Devices since January 2026.

Now at
Analog Devices
Works
149
Citations
4,584
h-index
33

Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 15 October 2026.

Timeline

  1. 1993–1998

    Berkeley and MIT degrees

    A Tokyo native, she moves to the U.S. at 16. She earns a bachelor's degree from Berkeley in 1993 and a doctorate from MIT in 1998.

  2. 2001–2006

    Assistant professor at Carnegie Mellon

    She works as an assistant professor at Carnegie Mellon University from 2001 to 2006, affiliated with the Robotics Institute. Her expertise covers AI, robotics and neuroscience.

  3. 2007

    A MacArthur Fellowship

    She wins a MacArthur Fellowship in 2007 while an associate professor at the University of Washington. Her research combines neuroscience and robotics to create more realistic prosthetics.

  4. 2011

    Google X and Nest

    She joins Google X in 2011 as one of its three founding members. She then joins Nest as vice president of technology, in charge of machine learning and UX.

  5. 2016–2017

    Back at Nest as CTO

    She leaves Apple in late 2016 after helping run health technology initiatives. In 2017 she returns to Nest as chief technology officer, responsible for enabling technologies such as sensors and machine learning.

  6. 2021–2023

    Yohana and PanasonicWELL

    She launches a subsidiary called Yohana in 2021. In 2023 she is named CEO of the new PanasonicWELL unit.

  7. January 2025

    Umi, a family wellness platform

    In January 2025 she announces Umi, a digital family wellness platform and coach, at CES. Panasonic also announces a partnership with Anthropic.

  8. Since 2026

    An Analog Devices board seat

    She joins the Analog Devices board as an independent director in January 2026.

Sources and credits

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  1. Yoky Matsuoka - MacArthur Foundation macfound.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  2. CEO and Google X Co-Founder: ‘Mission Doesn’t Come So Easily’—How She Found Hers – NBC Bay Area nbcbayarea.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  3. Analog Devices Appoints Yoky Matsuoka to its Board of Directors prnewswire.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  4. UW computer engineer wins MacArthur Foundation 'genius' award | UW News washington.edu. Checked 15 October 2026.
  5. Yoky Matsuoka - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  6. ICTbusiness.biz | Alphabet Gets Matsuoka Back as Nest CTO ictbusiness.biz. Checked 15 October 2026.
  7. Google X cofounder Yoky Matsuoka new PanasonicWELL CEO | Fortune fortune.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  8. Panasonic Well sets the stage for the future of family wellness in opening keynote at CES 2025 | Business Strategy/Policy | Company | Press Releases | Panasonic Newsroom Global news.panasonic.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  9. Well into the Future: A Recap of Panasonic at CES 2025 | Sponsorship & Events | Sponsorship & Events | Panasonic Stories | Panasonic Newsroom Global news.panasonic.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  10. Yoky Matsuoka yokymatsuoka.com. Checked 15 October 2026.