AI researcher; CEO, Novamente/OpenCog; co-founder, iCog Labs (Ethiopia)
Ben Goertzel is an AI researcher who ran the OpenCog artificial general intelligence project out of Hong Kong and co-founded iCog Labs in Addis Ababa with Ethiopian roboticist Getnet Aseffa Gezaw. He appears in over 80 emails in Epstein's archive spanning 2011 to 2016. Epstein funded Goertzel's Hong Kong OpenCog effort and hosted him at his Manhattan residence. In 2014, Epstein's foundation issued a press release claiming it helped launch AI in Ethiopia through iCog Labs. Goertzel wrote to Epstein's PR team in August 2014 correcting the record: the foundation had never funded iCog, which was seed-funded by investor Sander Olsen. Goertzel said he tolerated the false association because "Jeffrey has been so generous to me over the years." The articles were published anyway. He pitched Epstein on a $3M AGI project, a $75K Ethiopian teaching tablet, and AGI conference sponsorship. Epstein maintained Goertzel on his personal contacts list through at least October 2016.
| Date | Sender | Subject | Countries |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Jun 2011 | Ben Goertzel | What I'd really like to be doing (proposal for larger OpenCog AGI Toddler project) | MoroccoEgyptAfrica |
| 17 Jan 2013 | Ben Goertzel | Re: List of some interesting people ;-) | EthiopiaSudanAfrica |
| 15 Aug 2014 | Ben Goertzel | Re: Hello from Jeffrey Epstein's Foundation | KenyaNigeriaSouth AfricaEthiopiaAfrica |
| 15 Aug 2014 | (Redacted) | Re: Hello from Jeffrey Epstein's Foundation | KenyaNigeriaSouth AfricaEthiopiaAfrica |
| 17 Sept 2014 | Ben Goertzel | nan | Ethiopia |
| 17 Sept 2014 | Ben Goertzel | Ethiopian Intelligent Teaching Tablet project | EthiopiaAfrica |
| 17 Sept 2014 | Ben Goertzel | Visiting in November | Ethiopia |
| 13 Oct 2014 | — | Re: Al in Ethiopia | Ethiopia |
| 9 Nov 2014 | jeffrey E. | Re: timing for meet-up in November ... Re: Visiting in November | Ethiopia |
| 9 Nov 2014 | [email protected] | Re: timing for meet-up in November ... Re: Visiting in November | Ethiopia |
| 3 Jul 2015 | [REDACTED] | AI in Ethiopia article | Ethiopia |
| 3 Jul 2015 | [REDACTED] | AI in Ethiopia article | Ethiopia |
| 26 Aug 2015 | Ben Goertzel | Re: Ethiopia article published | Ethiopia |
| 26 Aug 2015 | Ben Goertzel | Re: Ethiopia article published | Ethiopia |
| 7 Sept 2015 | Ben Goertzel | nan | — |
| 7 Sept 2015 | Ben Goertzel | Re: | — |
| 26 Mar 2016 | Ben Goertzel | Re: Available sometime in the interval April 18-28? | EthiopiaAfrica |
| 11 Jul 2016 | Ben Goertzel | nan | — |
| 11 Jul 2016 | jeffrey E. | Re: quick question -- AGI-16 snacks and reception sponsorship? | — |
| 11 Jul 2016 | Ben Goertzel | nan | — |
| 11 Jul 2016 | Ben Goertzel | Re: quick question -- AGI-16 snacks and reception sponsorship? | Ethiopia |
| 16 Jul 2016 | Ben Goertzel | Re: quick question -- AGI-16 snacks and reception sponsorship? | — |
| 16 Jul 2016 | Ben Goertzel | Re: quick question -- AGI-16 snacks and reception sponsorship? | — |
Ben Goertzel does not appear as a sender or recipient in these emails. They are referenced in the body text.
| Date | Sender | Subject | Countries |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Aug 2009 | Jeffrey Epstein | nan | Ethiopia |
| 4 Jan 2013 | Redacted | Priv & Con£ Jan. 4-31 | — |
| 1 Jun 2014 | nan | Forbes article | Ethiopia |
| 24 Jul 2014 | Unknown | Re: premium topic | Ethiopia |
| 28 Jul 2014 | — | NET Site update | EthiopiaAfrica |
| 29 Jul 2014 | Tyler Shears | Re: 4 articles | Ethiopia |
| 29 Jul 2014 | Tyler Shears | Re: NET Site update | EthiopiaAfrica |
| 29 Jul 2014 | Tyler Shears | Re: NET Site update | EthiopiaAfrica |
| 29 Jul 2014 | — | Re: 4 articles | Ethiopia |
| 9 Oct 2014 | (Redacted) | quantum article attached. | Ethiopia |
| 9 Oct 2014 | [Redacted Sender Information] | quantum article attached. | Ethiopia |
| 24 Oct 2014 | nan | Al article attached. | Ethiopia |
| 24 Oct 2014 | nan | nan | Ethiopia |
| 14 Jun 2015 | — | updated sites | Ethiopia |
| 16 Jun 2015 | nan | Al article | Ethiopia |
| Invalid Date | nan | quantum article attached. | Ethiopia |