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Writing & Speeches

  • Letter to the Community

    Following my Congressional testimony

    Dear members of the MIT community,

    As you may have heard, the US House Committee on Education and the Workforce called me to testify today on antisemitism. You can read my statement here. 

  • Speech

    Generative AI: Shaping the Future

    Good morning! I’m delighted to see such a packed house – and hello to all the alumni on the livestream!

    I want to thank Daniela Rus, Cynthia Breazeal and Sertac Karaman for making this amazing symposium happen. And thank you all for being here to help kick…

  • Letter to the Community

    Update on the events of November 9

    On the evening of Thursday, November 9, President Sally Kornbluth wrote to the MIT community to explain a very complex and difficult set of campus events and their consequences.To make sure we all have the same facts now, and to answer some common questions, we’ve…

  • Letter to the Community

    Update on campus tensions

    Dear members of the MIT community, here on campus and around the world –

    In response to the tragic violence in the Middle East, a protest and counterprotest in Lobby 7 last Thursday have stirred considerable…

  • Transcript

    Video transcript: Tensions on campus

    View the video.

    Hello, everyone.

    The profound ongoing tragedy in the Middle East is having painful repercussions on our campus. 

    I know that all of us feel deep sorrow over all the terrible human suffering that has occurred, and that…

  • Letter to the Community

    Today’s protest and counterprotest

    Dear members of the MIT community,

    I want to describe some events that occurred at MIT today and reflect briefly on what they mean for our community.

    As many of you know,…

  • Letter to the Community

    Inviting you to MIT Generative AI Week

    Dear members of the MIT community,

    I’m delighted to invite you to join us for MIT Generative AI Week, a series of events to be held on campus, November 28–30, 2023.

    These…

  • Transcript

    Video transcript: How we treat each other

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    When I last spoke with you about the awful tragedy unfolding between Israel and the Palestinians, I expressed the fear that the rhetoric on our own campus might escalate to the point of personal attacks or harassment. 

    I had…

  • Letter to the Community

    Fostering a culture of free expression: An update

    This update reflects the status of our work to foster a culture of respectful free expression. We will keep the community current as these initiatives and others proceed.

    Last February, I wrote you to express my own strong commitment to freedom of expression…

  • Transcript

    Video transcript: Our community and the violence in Israel and Gaza

    View the video.

    Good afternoon, everyone –

    Since Saturday, perhaps like many of you, I’ve been absorbed by the shocking news and immense, escalating tragedy in Israel and Gaza. Beyond the headlines, the news has also come to me through anguished letters…