Marvin Minsky was an American cognitive scientist and a pioneer in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Born on August 9, 1927, he co-founded the MIT Media Lab and was a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Minsky's work focused on understanding human thought processes and developing machines that could simulate aspects of human intelligence. Throughout his career, Minsky authored several influential books, including "The Society of Mind," where he proposed that the mind is made up of many smaller processes working together. His contributions to AI and robotics have had a lasting impact on technology and cognitive science, inspiring future generations of researchers.