We hope you noticed a different name and logo on this newsletter — The MIT Quest for Intelligence has been renamed the MIT Siegel Family Quest for Intelligence (SQI) in recognition of generous support from the Siegel Family Endowment. Last month, we celebrated this with David M. Siegel, SM ’86, PhD ’91, and representatives from the Siegel Family Endowment.
A New Name, a Continued Commitment
Since our founding in 2018, our organization has brought together researchers from across MIT who combine their diverse expertise to understand intelligence through tightly coupled scientific inquiry and rigorous engineering. Our goal is to understand intelligence — how brains produce it and how it can be replicated in artificial systems to address real-world problems that exceed the capabilities of current AI technologies.
A recent major gift from the Siegel Family Endowment is enabling further growth in SQI’s research and activities. David Siegel explains, “The human brain may very well be the most complex physical system in the universe, yet most people haven't shown much interest in how it works. People take the mind for granted, yet wonder so much about other scientific mysteries, such as the origin of the universe."
Reintroducing the MIT Siegel Family Quest for Intelligence
The Next Horizon: The Quest's Future
On November 24, 2025, supporters and friends of the MIT Siegel Family Quest for Intelligence gathered to celebrate our new name with an afternoon of research updates, a panel discussion, and a poster session. We were excited to welcome David M. Siegel, SM ’86, PhD ’91, representatives from the Siegel Family Endowment, and members of the MIT Corporation. Recordings of the presentations and discussion are available on our YouTube channel.
Perceptual Intelligence Mission
This Mission believes that it’s possible for a system to perceive the 3D world as a person does, able to work in any environment and situation a person can perceive, predict and act in. Presented by Jim DiCarlo and Josh Tenenbaum.
Embodied Intelligence Mission
This Mission asks if robots can solve problems and learn new tasks in open settings like homes, construction sites, and disaster areas just as quickly as a person can. Presented by Leslie Pack Kaelbling and Nancy Kanwisher.
Language & Thought Mission
This Mission's goal is to create a system with the same type of conversational inputs and outputs as ChatGPT, but that explains human thought. Presented by Ev Fedorenko and Jacob Andreas.
Development of Intelligent Minds Mission
Imagine a machine that grows into intelligence the way a person does – it starts like a baby and learns like a child. The mechanisms enabling this would mirror those operating in the developing human brain. Presented by Laura Schulz and Josh Tenenbaum.
Panel Discussion: SQI's Research Vision
Looking to the Horizon in a panel discussion moderated by Josh Tenenbaum, with Dr. David Siegel, SM ’86, PhD ’91; Ev Fedorenko, Rebecca Saxe, and Nick Roy.
The SQI Corporate Program
SQI’s Corporate Engagement Program connects industry with Quest researchers, leading to productive and fulfilling relationships. Cathy Canney has joined our team as the Corporate Engagement Manager; she has twenty years of experience in higher education administration, including seven years as chief of staff to the dean of the MIT Sloan School of Management. She is eager to connect with representatives from all industries to share opportunities and discuss possible relationships.