Luis von Ahn voted one of Top 50 Agenda Setters in the Tech World
It’s just about impossible to be at Carnegie Mellon and not know about Luis von Ahn’s many accomplishments. CAPTCHA, the ESP Game, and reCAPTCHA have created a sensation not only because of their widespread impact and commercial successes, but also because they hint at the possibility of a new field of study, tentatively referred to as Human Computation. Given this, it isn’t surprising that our department would make plans to create a new research center on human computation; what’s impressive is that other top departments are doing (or have already done!) the same. One must assume, also, that tech companies such as Google and Microsoft are also investing resources into this research area. Such influence on the very best computer science research institutions and companies, and at such a young age, is simply remarkable.
These and other ideas have earned Luis many accolades, including a MacArthur Fellowship (the so-called MacArthur “genius” award) and a Microsoft New Faculty Fellowship. There is an irresistable “cool factor”, which attracts major media outlets like Wired and CBS News to do features on Luis. And, of course, our local media just can’t get enough of him. (See, for example this article and that article for just two of many examples.)
As these kudos pile up, Luis automatically becomes more and more influential in the tech world. Just last week, a panel of experts for Silicon.com named Luis one of the top 50 agenda setters in the tech world in 2007. (He is ranked #46, just beaten out by Linus Torvalds and Tim O’Reilly.) Also, Smithsonian Magazine named him one of America’s top 37 innovators under age 36. Venture capitalists are calling and knocking on his door on a daily basis — the big stick you see in his office is used to beat them back! ;-)
So, just what is it about Luis von Ahn that makes him so special? And why does he seem to fit in so perfectly at Carnegie Mellon? Well, one thing that is striking to anyone who spends time with Luis is a superb creativity, on just about any possible topic. For me, personally, I have learned new things from him not just about research on algorithms or Internet technologies, but also about the social structure of the department (e.g., considerations in allocating offices in the new Gates Center), the whys and wherefores of living in Pittsburgh, and what it takes to get slashdotted. In a word, Luis seems to be always creating. Somehow, the gene that helps a person turn on and off the urge for creative expression and problem solving seems to be missing or stuck in the “on” position in Luis.
As for Luis’ fit in our department, it is no secret that many departments wanted to hire Luis (and still do). And while every top department understands keenly the value of the “cachet” that Luis’ research and public notoriety bring, what I believe is special here is that we have a culture and support structure that can take a raw talent like Luis and make him successful not only in the public eye and commercial world, but also in the ivory towers of academia, where the highest standards of scholarship are demanded and “coolness” is sometimes looked upon with deep suspicion. To the extent that Luis can’t imagine any life more fun than being a professor, CMU is really the only place to be.
Some day Luis may change and decide to try something outside of academia. When and if that happens, I have no doubt that he will be hugely successful. But in the mean time, Luis von Ahn is on a trajectory to become one the world’s most important scholars. And in the long run, that may be his biggest and most important accomplishment.
Peter Lee @ October 25, 2007