The company behind latent preference learning
SkinDeep.ai Inc is the company behind latent preference learning — published in 2025 under the working name PLGL (Preference Learning in Generative Latent Spaces). In 2018–19 it built and shipped one of the earliest systems that learns individual preferences from ratings and generates personalized content with no prompting.
The idea came from a simple observation: people struggle to describe what they want, but they can rate examples instantly. So let them rate, learn the preference, and generate from it.
Started development of preference learning technology using early generative models. Initial experiments showed promising results in learning individual aesthetic preferences.
Released the first application demonstrating PLGL technology. Users could discover their "ideal face" through simple swipe interactions. Filed provisional patent for the core methodology.
Continued research and development, exploring applications beyond facial generation. Discovered the technology's potential across multiple domains.
Open-sourced the technology under MIT as PLGL: whitepaper, code, and worked examples.
Plainer naming, a live in-browser demo of the full loop, and a sourced landscape of who has since built which pieces.
Steve Seguin is a serial entrepreneur with extensive experience in AI/ML, computer vision, and real-time streaming technologies. His career spans successful exits, open source leadership, and pioneering technical innovations.
Creator & Maintainer
Open-source live streaming tools with 100K+ daily active users. Stable systems handling hundreds of terabytes of live video data monthly, built browser-first with an efficient, scalable, and secure architecture.
Chief Innovation Officer (2017 - Present), previously CTO
Built early real-time browser-based studios, enabling download-free, low-cost interactive live experiences well before COVID pushed adoption. Work spans ultra-low-latency content delivery and real-time video mixing/switching/effects. Multiple patents pending.
Founder
Created PLGL technology - teaching AI to understand preferences through simple ratings. Patent-pending technology for preference learning in generative latent spaces. Native Android/iOS apps developed with NativeScript (code available on GitHub). Featured in app stores with YouTube demo available.
Chief Technology Officer
CTO of publicly traded visual search company (TSX:SLC). Scaled team to 100+ employees, managing both development and research teams. Built AI training infrastructure with human taggers for computer vision systems. Led development using CNNs and SVMs for major retailers.
Co-founder & CTO
Image-based product search tool and CBIR innovator. Successfully acquired in Q4 2013. Pioneered visual search on Pinterest before Pinterest itself offered it.
Why Open Source? Steve believes in the power of open innovation. By making PLGL open source, the technology becomes defensible through community adoption rather than legal barriers. This aligns with Steve's track record - VDO.Ninja's success came from being open and accessible to all.
Continuous Innovation: Steve's philosophy centers on the belief that there are always new opportunities ahead. Open sourcing PLGL ensures the core ideas remain accessible while creating space for continuous innovation. Agency and creative thought provide endless entry points to build new value.
Building for Impact: From scaling systems to handle hundreds of terabytes at VDO.Ninja, to pioneering browser-based studios at Stage TEN before society needed them, Steve has consistently built technology ahead of its time. PLGL follows this pattern - solving tomorrow's problems today.
At SkinDeep.ai Inc, we believe AI should adapt to people, not the other way around. Our mission is to make AI generation as intuitive as expressing a preference - no technical knowledge, no complex prompts, just natural interaction.
By open sourcing PLGL, we aim to democratize personalized AI generation and enable developers worldwide to build applications that truly understand individual preferences.
PLGL represents a fundamental shift in how we interact with generative AI:
Interested in PLGL technology or potential partnerships?