The St. Thomas Common Sense Symposium and the Unseen Connection
Twenty-three years ago, a group of pioneering researchers in artificial intelligence received an invitation to a conference in the Caribbean. This event, known as the St. Thomas Common Sense Symposium, took place in April 2002 on the U.S. Virgin Islands. What many did not know at the time was that the financial backing for this gathering came from a man whose name would later become synonymous with scandal.
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The symposium brought together some of the brightest minds in AI, including computer scientists, philosophers, and cognitive researchers. Among the attendees were Benjamin Kuipers, Mary Shepherd, and Marvin Minsky, who would go on to recall their experiences during the event. However, it wasn’t until much later that they learned the identity of the individual who funded the conference: Jeffrey Epstein, a financier who would later be convicted of child sex offenses and died by suicide in 2019.
A Disturbing Revelation
For many of those who attended, the revelation of Epstein’s involvement came as a shock. Benjamin Kuipers, a retired computer scientist from the University of Michigan, expressed his discomfort upon learning the connection. “It was very disturbing when I first discovered that there was that connection, and I wish it had never happened,” he said.
Mary Shepherd, co-founder of Cycorp, shared similar sentiments. She recalled visiting Epstein’s private island, Little St. James, where she and her late husband, Doug Lenat, met with other attendees, including Marvin Minsky and his wife. During the visit, she encountered Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s associate, and two teenage girls who she assumed were her children. “There was just a really strange vibe when I was there,” she said.
Despite these feelings, neither Kuipers nor Shepherd witnessed any illegal activity or had concerns about the presence of children. They both emphasized that they were unaware of the full extent of Epstein’s actions at the time.
The Atmosphere of the Symposium
During the symposium itself, Epstein appeared to be a typical sponsor, according to attendees. Kuipers noted that Epstein was often seen with a number of attractive young women, but he did not believe they were underage. “That’s rich guys for you,” he said, adding that it never crossed his mind to question their age.
Other participants, like Aaron Sloman, a philosopher and AI researcher, also attended the event. He recalled traveling on a private jet owned by Epstein and staying in a luxurious hotel on the island. “I think the accommodation provided by Epstein was lavish,” he said, though he admitted his memory was somewhat hazy due to his advancing age.
The Impact of the Symposium
While the symposium was small, with around 20 attendees, it was seen as an opportunity for meaningful discussions on AI and cognitive science. Kuipers described the event as “particularly exciting” because of the close-knit group of like-minded individuals. However, he admitted that he was “completely clueless” about the underlying issues at the time.
Shepherd, too, felt that the symposium did not have a significant impact on her work. “I was actually somewhat disappointed because it had been built up as being this big deal, and it really wasn’t,” she said.
Sloman, on the other hand, believed that Epstein’s interest in AI may have been driven by his desire to use the technology for financial gain. “It could explain his motivation for spending so much money to bring people to the symposium,” he wrote.
Reflections on the Past
As the years passed, the true nature of Epstein’s activities became more evident. For those who attended the symposium, the experience remains a mix of professional engagement and personal reflection. Kuipers and Shepherd both expressed relief that they had chosen not to accept funding from Epstein, acknowledging that it could have led to a disastrous outcome.
In the end, the St. Thomas Common Sense Symposium serves as a reminder of how easily the lines between intellectual exchange and personal relationships can blur. While the event was meant to foster collaboration and innovation, it also highlighted the importance of vigilance and awareness in the face of potential dangers.
