Our research follows 2,932 researchers, builders, lab leaders and public voices through cited biographies. Missing career records can lower counts. Outdated roles can overstate current counts and change ranks. Citation figures count 6 of the 6 people here now. People whose OpenAlex record may be incomplete or mixed are left out. Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 15 October 2026. Career and profile data as of 15 October 2026.
We estimate that 15 people shaping AI have worked or studied at Boston University. Through 2025, we estimate a peak of 7 people in 1995, 2002, 2018–2019 and 2022. With 6 people here now, the group is tied for 58th among universities.
California Institute of Technology, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, University of Cambridge, University of Wisconsin–Madison and University of Zurich tie as the largest sources of arrivals, with 1 full move each.Our estimates of full moves between organization groups. Smaller routes are grouped as Other. universitiescompaniesinstitutes and labs
A three-column flow diagram. People came from organizations on the left, Boston University is in the middle, and destinations are on the right. It shows 7 incoming and 5 outgoing full moves.
Source: People of Superintelligence career records with full moves only, as of 15 October 2026.
The group peaked at 7 people in 1995, 2002, 2018–2019 and 2022.Our annual estimates through 2025. Each person counts once per year with an active work stint.
A stacked column chart of our yearly estimates at Boston University from 1987 to 2025. Each person counts once in each year with an active work stint.
Source: People of Superintelligence dated career stints, as of 15 October 2026.
Data table
Year
Other
People
1987
3
3
1988
4
4
1989
4
4
1990
4
4
1991
4
4
1992
5
5
1993
5
5
1994
5
5
1995
7
7
1996
6
6
1997
6
6
1998
6
6
1999
6
6
2000
6
6
2001
6
6
2002
7
7
2003
6
6
2004
4
4
2005
4
4
2006
4
4
2007
4
4
2008
4
4
2009
4
4
2010
4
4
2011
4
4
2012
4
4
2013
4
4
2014
4
4
2015
5
5
2016
5
5
2017
6
6
2018
7
7
2019
7
7
2020
6
6
2021
6
6
2022
7
7
2023
5
5
2024
6
6
2025
4
4
Researchers make up 6 of the 6 people here now.The current group: roles, affiliations, topics and recorded birthplaces and years. A person can have several affiliations.
A summary of current people at Boston University. It shows roles, affiliations, profile topics and birth countries known for 3 people. The median birth year uses 2 people.
Role categories
Research6
Current affiliations
Boston University6
Top profile topics
computational neuroscience3
machine learning2
neural networks2
adaptive resonance theory1
audio signal processing1
Birth countries
Known for 3 of 6 people now.
United States3
Median birth year
about 1941 (2 people)
Source: People of Superintelligence profiles, current career records and recorded birthplaces, as of 15 October 2026.
Data table
Measure
Value
People
Role
Research
6
Current affiliation
Boston University
6
Profile topic
computational neuroscience
3
Profile topic
machine learning
2
Profile topic
neural networks
2
Profile topic
adaptive resonance theory
1
Profile topic
audio signal processing
1
Birth country
United States
3
Birth country coverage
3 of 6 people now
3
Median birth year
about 1941
2
The current group is tied for 58th among universities.Our estimates of current and former affiliations, and combined h-index of people here now. Ties share a rank.
A table compares Boston University with 3942 organizations and 1520 organizations of the same type for current people, people ever and combined h-index where available.
People now
6 people
tied for 89th of 3,942 organizationstied for 58th of 1,520 universities
People ever
15 people
tied for 160th of 3,942 organizationstied for 112th of 1,520 universities
Combined h-index of people now
399 across 6 people
68th of 910 organizations50th of 440 universities
Source: People of Superintelligence organization membership and confident OpenAlex statistics, as of 15 October 2026.
Data table
Measure
Value
All organizations
Same type
People now
6
tied for 89th of 3,942
tied for 58th of 1,520
People ever
15
tied for 160th of 3,942
tied for 112th of 1,520
Combined h-index of people now
399 (6 people)
68th of 910
50th of 440
The largest career overlap is with Massachusetts Institute of Technology: 7 people.People with work records at both organizations, at any time in their careers.
A ranked chart shows 5 organizations with people who also have work records at Boston University. Each count is a distinct person with work stints at both organizations.
Source: People of Superintelligence affiliations and work stints, as of 15 October 2026.
