About
Building ethical AI systems while keeping humanity at the center.
Who I Am
I'm Daniel Shanklin, Director of AI at AIC Holdings in Fort Worth, Texas. My work sits at the intersection of traditional investment and frontier artificial intelligence, with a focus on building systems that prioritize human wellbeing over pure commercial gain.
As Chairman and Chief Architect of Rhea AI, I'm developing the Eidos AGI platform—a multi-agent system built with ethical stewardship at its core. Through Eidos Inc's unique governance structure, we've created checks and balances that ensure this technology serves humanity's long-term interests.
As Executive Director of The Rhea Foundation, I work to democratize access to world-class AI tools for small businesses and nonprofits—organizations often left behind by technological advances. AI should be a bridge, not a barrier.
Background
My journey has been non-linear. I started young—at seven, I piloted an aircraft across the US, which probably sounds stranger than it felt at the time. What stuck with me was the realization that complex things become manageable when you break them into smaller steps.
I spent nine years in finance at a hedge fund, moving from back-office analysis to portfolio management. The work involved building systems, quantitative modeling, and learning to translate theoretical models into practical tools that worked under real market conditions.
Since 2018, I've focused on AI and data engineering—building ETL pipelines, simulation systems, and machine learning models across different industries. I've worked in entertainment, healthcare, and fintech. The problems change, but the core work stays similar: making data useful. I've been writing software for three decades, working in whatever language fits the problem. The patent came from work on algorithmic interface design, though most of what I build never makes it to a patent filing.
Philosophy
I believe we're at a critical juncture in human history. The decisions we make today about artificial intelligence—how we build it, govern it, and deploy it—will echo for generations.
That's why I've structured my work around three principles: ethical governance (Eidos Inc), technical excellence (Rhea AI), and social equity (The Rhea Foundation). Each piece supports the others, creating a holistic approach to AI development that doesn't sacrifice one value for another.
The future I'm working toward is one where powerful AI systems are both technically sophisticated and deeply aligned with human flourishing. Complex things become manageable when you break them into steps and stay focused on what matters.