My general impression is the Media Lab is sort of framed as the successor to the old AI lab, a kind of research crown jewel of MIT. Ito is its director and thus shares in its glory and builds on it. I've seen a variety of press releases over the years polishing and building that glory up. I've seen a lot of smart names associated with it over the years.

I'm not, professionally, interested in its research direction so I don't pay attention to its research really. :: spreads hands ::