Philosopher and scientist Marvin Minsky was universally regarded as one of the world's leading authorities in the field of artificial intelligence, having made fundamental contributions in the sectors of robotics and computer-aided learning technologies. In recent years he worked chiefly on imparting to machines the human capacity for common-sense reasoning. His book Society of Mind is considered a basic text for exploring intellectual structure and function, and for understanding the diversity of the mechanisms interacting in intelligence and thought.

Minsky received his BA and PhD in mathematics from Harvard and Princeton, respectively. In 1951 he built the SNARC, the first neural network simulator. His other inventions include mechanical hands and other robotic devices, the confocal scanning microscope, the "Muse" synthesizer for musical variations (with E. Fredkin), and the first LOGO "turtle" (with S. Papert).

Speakers

Hosted by John Hockenberry
Joi Ito
Daniela Rus
Gloria Rudisch Minsky
Jacques d'Amboise
Patrick Winston
Yoshiaki Shirai
Mike Hawley
Dylan Holmes
Danny Hillis
Cynthia Solomon and Brian Silverman
Ed Fredkin
Tom Ashbrook and David Levitt
Ed Boyden
Ruth Minsky Amster
Margaret Minsky
Tod Machover
Nicholas Negroponte
The Minsky Family