The big annual AI conference was held at CMU in August of 1982, and I was there with my friends and colleagues. [AAAI-82] We were just a pack of fanboy students cutting our teeth on building early AI systems back then. (One example is this Early AI Adventure: USS Carl Vinson.)
All the early luminaries, including Dr. Marvin Minsky, were there. Many were presenting their latest research and papers. I think Dr. Minsky was there to host a panel. These were heady times for AI. A young Geoff Hinton would soon publish his famous paper on multi-level networks and backpropagation.
Minsky was an AI OG but was also philosophical and an excellent improvisational pianist. In short, we could not debate this guy!
After his session, we surrounded him before he left the stage. Our discussion devolved into an argument about “any energy you expend outside of furthering your research and abilities is wasted.”
Our youthful enthusiasm was strong but easily parried with simple arguments. He stuck to his claims that he spent no time on any activity not directly connected with the advancement of his work. We seemed out of ideas when a woman (his wife Gloria Rudisch) behind the smug Minsky appeared to be signaling us.
It took a minute to sink in, but we could see what she suggested that might help.
After a beat, we finally asked, “Dr. Minsky, what about sex?” The eminent researcher smiled, quickly packed up his papers, and left the stage.
One surprise benefit of the current “AI renaissance” is a stirring of all the great work and fond memories of those foundational days.