Robert joins with an extensive background in the visual effects (VFX) and entertainment industry. He is the visual effects pioneer behind such legendary films as Avatar, Titanic, The Lion King (2019), Jungle Book, Apollo 13, Aviator, and Hugo. His work in Hollywood has earned him several accolades, including three Academy Awards and a BAFTA. He has also held roles at Paramount Pictures, Digital Domain, and Sony Pictures Imageworks over his 30-plus year career.

Legato created and conceived the Virtual Cinematography Pipeline for James Cameron’s landmark production, Avatar, which went on to surpass “Titanic” as the highest grossing film of all time with $2.8 billion in worldwide receipts.

“Joining Stability AI is an incredible opportunity, and I couldn’t be more excited to help shape the next era of filmmaking,” said Legato. “With dynamic leaders like Prem Akkaraju and James Cameron driving the vision, the potential here is limitless. What excites me most is Stability AI’s commitment to filmmakers—building a tool that is as intuitive as it is powerful, designed to elevate creativity rather than replace it. It’s an artist-first approach to AI, and I’m thrilled to be part of it.”

As Chief Pipeline Architect, Robert will leverage his deep domain expertise to align Stability AI’s applied research with real VFX industry needs. He will also strengthen collaboration between Stability AI and the VFX industry, translating Stability AI’s cutting-edge visual media models and workflows into practical solutions for production pipelines. 

“Rob’s expertise in VFX is unmatched. For 30 years, he has operated at the intersection of art and science, driving the last major technological shift in filmmaking with CGI,” said Prem Akkaraju, Stability AI CEO. “That experience makes him the perfect addition as we transform the visual media production pipeline again with generative AI GPU-based tools, shaping the future of professional storytelling. His decision to join Stability AI is a testament to the strength of our technology and team”.

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