PeopleofSuperintelligence

Public voice

Gary Marcus

Gary Marcus is a cognitive scientist, writer, and NYU emeritus scientist whose work examines rules, learning, and dependable AI. His MIT doctorate studied rules and exceptions in language. In The Algebraic Mind, he explored how symbol manipulation and neural networks could fit together. He later helped found Geometric Intelligence, acquired by Uber in 2016, and the robotics company Robust.AI. With Ernest Davis, he wrote Rebooting AI. His public work includes a 2018 critique of deep learning and Senate testimony calling for independent checks of AI systems. His recent response to an OpenAI mathematics announcement continues his concern with evidence and wider applicability. These critiques are his positions.

Works
207
Citations
10,117
h-index
43

Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 14 October 2026.

Photo of Gary Marcus

Timeline

  1. 1993

    Starting with language and rules

    He completes an MIT doctorate on rules and exceptions in language.

  2. 2014–2016

    Building a company around the problem

    He helps found Geometric Intelligence; Uber acquires it in 2016.

  3. January 2018

    Putting the critique in writing

    He publishes a critique arguing that general intelligence will require additional techniques.

  4. September 2019

    A book about dependable machines

    He and Ernest Davis publish Rebooting AI, arguing for dependable systems.

  5. October 2026

    The same question meets a new result

    The NYU emeritus scientist and writer asks for clearer evidence around a new mathematics result.

Sources and credits

Photo: Athena Vouloumanos, via Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY 4.0. Source: commons.wikimedia.org. Cropped to a square and resized. Ask us to remove or replace this photo.

  1. NYU: Minds, Brains, and Machines faculty cds.nyu.edu. Checked 10 October 2026.
  2. MIT: Marcus doctoral thesis, 1993 dspace.mit.edu. Checked 10 October 2026.
  3. MIT Press: The Algebraic Mind mitpress.mit.edu. Checked 10 October 2026.
  4. Turing Institute: Geometric Intelligence acquisition, 7 December 2016 turing.ac.uk. Checked 10 October 2026.
  5. Deep Learning: A Critical Appraisal, 2018 arxiv.org. Checked 10 October 2026.
  6. Publisher: Rebooting AI penguinrandomhouse.com. Checked 10 October 2026.
  7. Robust.AI: Grace and Carter announcement robust.ai. Checked 10 October 2026.
  8. Marcus: written Senate testimony, 16 May 2023 judiciary.senate.gov. Checked 10 October 2026.
  9. Marcus: response to OpenAI mathematics announcement, 7 October 2026 garymarcus.substack.com. Checked 10 October 2026.