Guido van Rossum is a Dutch programmer best known for creating the programming language Python. He began developing Python in the late 1980s, and it was first released in 1991. Van Rossum aimed to make a language that was easy to read and write, which has contributed to Python's popularity in various fields, including web development, data analysis, and artificial intelligence. In addition to his work on Python, van Rossum has held various positions in the tech industry, including roles at Google and Microsoft. He is often referred to as the "Benevolent Dictator For Life" (BDFL) of Python, a title that reflects his long-term leadership and influence over the language's development.