Marvin Lee Minsky (1927–2016) was a pioneering American cognitive scientist and computer scientist renowned for his foundational contributions to artificial intelligence (AI). Born in New York City, Minsky developed an early interest in science and technology, serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II before pursuing higher education. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Harvard University in 1950 and a Ph.D. in mathematics from Princeton University in 1954. Minsky’s career at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) began in 1958, where he co-founded the MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory in 1959 alongside John McCarthy, establishing it as a global hub for AI research. He also played a key role in founding MIT’s Media Laboratory in 1985, serving as its first director until 1990. Minsky’s work focused on machine intelligence, neural networks, and cognitive models, authoring influential books such as Perceptrons (1969, co-authored with Seymour Papert) and The Society of Mind (1986), which explored philosophical and practical aspects of AI. His innovations included the development of the first neural network learning machine, SNARC, in 1951, and early work on computer vision and robotics. He held positions as a professor at MIT until his retirement in 2002 and was a co-recipient of the Turing Award in 1969 for his contributions to AI. Beyond academia, Minsky influenced popular culture through consultations on films like 2001: A Space Odyssey and his advocacy for AI’s potential to transform society. However, in his later years, Minsky became embroiled in controversy due to his associations with financier Jeffrey Epstein. In a 2014 defamation lawsuit filed by Virginia Giuffre against Ghislaine Maxwell, Giuffre alleged that Epstein trafficked her to Minsky for sex on Epstein’s private island, Little St. James, when she was 17 years old. This allegation surfaced amid broader investigations into Epstein’s sex trafficking network, tarnishing Minsky’s legacy despite his denials. Minsky passed away in 2016 from a cerebral hemorrhage, leaving a profound impact on AI and cognitive science. His work continues to inspire ongoing research in machine learning and philosophy of mind, though the Epstein-related accusations have prompted scrutiny of his personal connections within elite scientific and philanthropic circles.