1926 – 2009
Ray Solomonoff (1926-2009) was an American mathematician who invented algorithmic probability and the theory of universal inductive inference. His work laid the mathematical foundations for machine learning and artificial general intelligence, formalizing Occam's Razor through algorithmic information theory.
Invented algorithmic probability and universal inductive inference (Solomonoff induction)
Co-founded algorithmic information theory alongside Kolmogorov and Chaitin
Formalized Occam's Razor as a rigorous mathematical principle
Pioneered the theoretical foundations of machine learning and AGI
Published the seminal 1964 paper 'A Formal Theory of Inductive Inference'