Raymond Kurzweil is an American computer scientist, author, entrepreneur, futurist, and inventor. He is involved in fields such as optical character recognition (OCR), text-to-speech synthesis, speech recognition technology and electronic keyboard instruments. He has written books on health technology, artificial intelligence (AI), transhumanism, the technological singularity, and futurism. Kurzweil is an advocate for the futurist and transhumanist movements and gives public talks to share his optimistic outlook on life extension technologies and the future of nanotechnology, robotics, and biotechnology.

1948Nicholas Soames, English politician, Minister of State for the Armed Forces^[†]

Arthur Nicholas Winston Soames, Baron Soames of Fletching, is a British Conservative Party politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Mid Sussex from 1997 to 2019, having previously served as the MP for Crawley from 1983 to 1997.

Headlines from February 12, 1948

Lincoln's Clear Legal Mind Shown By Rare Text of His Notes in Suit; Rare Lincoln Data Show Legal Skill

CHAINS COMPETING IN FOOD PRICE CUTS; Advertised Items Are Reduced but City Survey Finds No Significant Declines CHAINS COMPETING IN FOOD PRICE CUTS

Bill Doubling State Legislative Pay To $5,000 Yearly Voted by Senate; STATE SENATORS VOTE FOR PAY BILL

HEART CONDITION TO RESTRICT MAYOR; Outside Activities, Including Night Engagements, to Be Cut on Doctor's Orders HEART CONDITION TO RESTRICT MAYOR

LONDON AND PARIS URGED NAZIS EAST IN '30'S, SAYS RUSSIA; Moscow Holds Conniving With Hitler Hatched War, Betrayed Austrians and Czechs GERMAN DOCUMENTS CITED Halifax and Henderson Talks With Germans Held to Show Aim to Isolate Soviet RUSSIANS ACCUSE LONDON AND PARIS

Notable Births