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Perceptrons - the first systematic study of parallelism in computation - marked a historic turn in artificial intelligence, returning to the idea that intelligence might emerge from the activity of networks of neuron-like entities. Minsky and Papert provided mathematical analysis that showed the limitations of a class of computing machines that could be considered as models of the brain. Minsky and Papert added a new chapter in 1987 in which they discuss the state of parallel computers, and note a central theoretical challenge: reaching a deeper understanding of how "objects" or "agents" with individuality can emerge in a network. Progress in this area would link connectionism with what the authors have called "society theories of mind."

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The late Marvin L. Minsky was Donner Professor of Science in MIT´s Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department. The late Seymour A. Papert was a Professor in MITs AI Lab (1960-1980s) and MITs Media Lab (1985-2000) and the author of Mindstorms: Children, Computers, and Powerful Ideas.

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