In 2002, artificial The intelligence of the world was in the winter. After decades of work, the dream of providing computers with real-world comprehension and humanlike cognition had failed to come true. A small group of researchers gathered to find a solution. “The St. Thomas Common Sense Symposium.” AI pioneer Marvin Minsky was the central presence, along with his protégé Pushpinder Singh. Minsky, Singh and Aaron Sloman after the symposium published a paper The group discussed ideas on how to achieve humanlike AI.
This paper discusses the early struggles in AI. Today, one phrase stands out. The authors acknowledge their work in a short paragraph. “This meeting was made possible by the generous support of Jeffrey Epstein.” It was in fact held on the Virgin Islands where Epstein has his now famous island retreat. Looking back at this event reveals something about the state of AI—as well as the symposium’s execrable funder.
The technology and scientific communities should be ashamed that a sexual predator was able to purchase relationships with influential people in their fields. Epstein’s relationships, including those with Bill Gates, Minsky and others, are well documented. In a deposition, Epstein survivor Virginia Giuffre alleged she was directed to have sex with Minsky at Epstein’s island; Minsky’s wife—who says she accompanied the scientist when he visited Epstein and that they only went to the New York and Palm Beach residences—has vehemently denied the charge, which was made shortly before Minsky’s death and was not revealed until much later. Epstein, who died in jail in 2019, took her own tragic life in 2025.
Epstein’s professional associations with sexual predators became an embarrassment, and even a damning fact, for the majority of Epstein’s contacts in science, technology, and other fields. Epstein penetrated these inner-circles, financing small gatherings that included bold-faced figures. (I myself The notorious 2002 “Billionaire DinnerEpstein mingled in TED’s “Epstein” with Sergey Brin (Google), Jeff Bezos (Rupert Murdoch), Naomi Judd the singer, prominent scientists including those who arrived on Epstein’s plane. John Brockman’s clientele included some of the biggest names in science. He was an excellent way to get into these circles. Epstein was a major funder of Brockman’s non-profit science foundation.
My source who was well acquainted with Epstein explained to me that he seemed to be genuinely interested in scientists. This source says that he is unaware of any crimes. It was agreed that Epstein would only be discussed under anonymity. “I experienced him as this eccentric, wealthy guy who liked to surround himself with interesting people and scientists and who had a lot of questions about the world,” The source claims. “He was as interested in the personality of the scientist as he was with the scientist’s work.” Epstein seems to understand why he’s welcomed by these circles. “I’m not more than a hobbyist in science,” he told Journalist Jeffrey Mervis, 2017. “But money I understand, [and] I’m a pretty good mathematician.”
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Epstein’s ghost casts an ominous shadow over the symposium of 2002. What was the origin of this symposium? I was given the unreported background story by my source. “Jeffrey used to say how fond he was of Marvin and how much he loved talking to him about AI,” The source said. It was not a popular subject in those days. “It was a time when people were really skeptical about whether AI had legs,” My source told me. The idea was born to hold a small AI meeting with Minsky as the focal point. The funding of the event is not known. $100,000 donation Epstein made this video to help Minksy with his research.
Singh was selected as the star Minsky student to speak at this year’s event. Singh, a student of Minsky’s from 1996 had published a brief paper entitled “Why AI Failed.” “To get humanlike intellect, he said, “we need systems with common-sense knowledge and flexible ways to use it. The trouble is that building such systems amounts to ‘solving AI.'” He wrote: “That’s a tough one.” “we have no choice but to face it head on.” Bill Gates commented on the article. “I think your observations about the AI field are correct.”)
The St. Thomas Symposium was a way of tackling the issue head on. It was a difficult event to plan. The initial list was lacking in star power, and it had to be supplemented. The guest list eventually grew and included Roger Schank. He is a famous AI theorist who has won many awards. obituary was marred By attending the event, and serving for a short time as Chief Learning Officer of Trump University. Doug Lenat is another participant. He was the creator of the CYC, an ambitious project that involved people typing in detail the explanations of objects they see every day into a data base for AI research. The event was also attended by Vernor VingeThe concept for the’spherical universe’ is the work of science fiction writer. AI singularity. UK philosopher SlomanOne of the late additions was. “I was not on Epstein’s original invitation list,” He emailed earlier in the week. “I was added at the suggestion of Marvin Minsky, partly because by then I was helping to supervise his student (Push Singh).” Sloman’s memory of that event is poor. Sloman says he does not remember the event. “I seem to remember that Epstein provided lavish resources, including using a private plane to get us to the location.”
