Teacher of Big Ideas
Ford Professor of Artificial Intelligence, MIT
He taught:
6.034 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
6.xxx Human Intelligence Enterprise
Beginning in the 1970s, Patrick taught the introductory AI course to legions of students at MIT and all over the world (watch his 6.034 lectures online). Students say that 6.034 actually teaches you how to think and 6.xxx teaches you how to live your life. Many consider him their best teacher and have lived by his advice throughout their lives.
 One of MIT's most celebrated teacherHere are his complete video lectures for 6.034 (Artificial Intelligence), which have been watched nearly 5 million times: bit.ly/PHWvideos (Contributed by MIT CSAIL, published first on Twitter) |  Patrick's ArchThis is a physical model of an arch, made with wood, around 3x4 inches, modeled after Professor Winston's iconic "arch" which appeared in his PhD dissertation in 1970. For several years, Prof. Winston used to give these small wooden arches as a "thank you gift / reward" to each one of his 6.034 TAs at the very last day of the class, in the Fall semester. The one in the picture is from 2016. (Contributed by Alexandros Charidis) |  How to speak 2016Patrick at how to speak January 2016. I printed these pictures for him after I came back from a leave of absence, to say thank you for his tremendous help as an advisor both before after and during my foray into tech. He meant so much to me. (Contributed by Alex List) |  How to speak 2016Patrick at how to speak January 2016. (Contributed by Alex List) |
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 Audience - How to speak 2016Patrick at how to speak January 2016. (Contributed by Alex List) |  Conversation - How to speak 2016Patrick at how to speak January 2016. (Contributed by Alex List) |  Salute - How to speak 2016Patrick at how to speak January 2016. (Contributed by Alex List) |  VSNC - How to speak 2016Patrick at how to speak January 2016. (Contributed by Alex List) |
 Patrick with 6.034 TAs in 2018Professor Winston with the 6.034 TAs from Fall 2018! The photo was taken on December 16, 2018. (Contributed by Marie Shi Feng) |  Patrick stood by robot in 6.034On September 24, 2018, Prof. Winston invited Marc Raibert from Boston Dynamics in the first Fall 2018 6.034 (Artificial Intelligence) "Right Now" Lectures. Raibert brought "Spot" with him, a four legged robot. (Photo contributed by Alexandros Charidis) |  The Powerful IdeasGood representations make you smarter. Good questions make you smarter. Sleep makes you smarter. Your mouth and eyes make you smarter. The Strong Story Hypothesis. The power of powerful ideas. (Contributed by Sebastian Bartlett) |  The Most Powerful of AllYou can do it. Only you can do it. You can't do it alone. You won't be alone if you take care of your people. (Contributed by Sebastian Bartlett) |
 Fantastic Prof Winston and 6.034Drawing of Patrick by a student who took his class 6.034, Intro to AI, on MIT OCW |  Stata whiteboardAfter over 40 years of teaching AI and winning many teaching awards, Patrick still practiced at 6 or 7 in the morning on the Stata blackboard before giving a lecture. (Photo contributed by Yuguang Duan) |  How to Speak 2018Patrick's annual talk, How To Speak, helped numerous students and faculty to communicate better. It was conducted in 10-250, his favorite classroom at MIT because of it's good lighting and conductive seating arrangement. |  WelcomePatrick always welcomed us. |
Genesis Story-Understanding Group,
Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab, MIT
Heart of Genesis Group
Patrick led the Genesis Group, which focuses on modeling our keystone story-understanding competence and better understanding our intelligence in general.
 Commencement reception in 2017Professor Winston and Sayeri Lala, previous Genesis group member, at the EECS commencement reception in 2017. Professor Winston was her research advisor through UROP and superUROP programs and worked with her to develop methods on implementing curiosity in Genesis. (Contributed by Sayeri Lala) |  Genesis group at Spring 2018Patrick is in the back row, third from the right. |  Patrick with graduate studentsThe photo is shot on 20 April 2018. From left to right: Dylan (SM '17), Patrick, Sayan (MEng '14), and Suri (MEng '19). |  Paintings on GenesisThe Genesis Group's familiar place, where Patrick would demonstrate codes and advise our projects |
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 The Genesis WallThe Genesis Wall, which documents the 20-year development of the Genesis Story-Understanding System. It is maintained by Patrick’s graduate students and located at MIT Stata Building, 32-259. |  ChristmasDrawing of Patrick and his students |  VisionPatrick’s vision is taking AI to important places and his students will carry it on. |
B.S. '65, M.S. '67, Ph.D. '70, MIT
Friend of the Community
According to Patrick, he stepped onto the train to Boston and never left. During his 57 years at MIT, he served as the director of the MIT AI Lab from 1972 to 1997.
A beloved friend and mentor, he left us with ideas and stories that will live in us forever.
 The greatest computing innovationPatrick gave his last public talk at the launch event for the MIT Stephen A. Schwarzman College of Computing on Feb. 26, 2019. “What is the greatest computing innovation of all time?” he asked. His answer: “It’s us.” |  It's us.We are the greatest computing innovation of all time because nothing else can think like we can. (Someone amazing drew it on Monday, July 22 and another kind soul took this picture) |  Patrick in 2006Patrick participating in the 2006 celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Dartmouth conference that gave Artificial Intelligence its name. (Contributed by Professor Peter Szolovits) |  Patrick in 2014Patrick at a 2014 reception celebrating the PhD of Andreea Bodnari. He served as a reader on her thesis committee and was, as he did with many students, helping her to figure out how to best explain her work. (Contributed by Professor Peter Szolovits) |
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 Baby Richard with PatrickA picture of Patrick Winston and Gerry Sussman holding a future 6.034 and 6.803 TA! (Contributed by Richard Yip) |  Patrick in 1975Patrick with Joel Moses at the console of a PDP-10, from the 1975 Lab for Computer Science brochure. (Contributed by Professor Peter Szolovits) |  Patrick in 1972Look how dashing Patrick was in 1972! (Contributed by Janet Fischer) |  Master Graduation Photo (1967)A Genesis research student captured this photo when Patrick found it in a cabinet on March 6, 2019. That day was the last time Patrick attended group meetings. Nevertheless, while in Massachusetts General Hospital, he continued to advise students via emails. (Contributed by Yida Xin.) |
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