Knightly News

As the world marks a population of eight billion people, communication and connectedness become increasingly important. For decades, Episcopal graduate Kevin Knight ’82 has been at the forefront of technology that has reshaped global communications and made it possible for us to communicate more clearly and efficiently without language barriers. He is a pioneer in machine translation, and he’s discovered ways to use artificial intelligence to create natural language processes that allow computers to generate text with rapidly progressing accuracy. Examples of this type of technology include the processes that power Google Translate or Grammarly.

Knight’s love of language and computers fits nicely with what he calls a puzzle mentality. He loves solving difficult puzzles like systems puzzles, computer puzzles and ancient ciphers.  Knight considers himself lucky to have had access early on to a computer. Well before it was common to have a household device, Knight’s father purchased an Apple II computer. Knight became “really interested” in what these machines could accomplish and the puzzles they could solve. That interest has inspired a lifetime of exploration and discovery.

From the Episcopal Computer Club to Harvard

Knight became an Episcopal Knight in the fifth grade. When reflecting on his Episcopal experience, he says he was ready for Harvard University after his time on Woodland Ridge. “I had such good math teachers and English teachers, I was well prepared,” he says of the foundation established at Episcopal. 

In what seems fitting now, Knight was a member of the Episcopal Computer Club while on campus. He also participated in The Governor’s Program for Gifted Children and remembers the academic summer camp experiences well. Knight was always naturally curious about other languages. In fact, a fascination with the uniqueness of Chinese characters inspired him to learn Chinese from the mother of Episcopal classmate Patrick Hu ’81.  

The Intersection of Language and Computer Science

At Harvard, Knight enrolled in a computer science degree program and began researching the possibilities of machine translation. He imagined machines that could copy written words from one language to another language with the push of a button and machines that would make global conversations possible. As technology caught up with Knight’s imagination, his dreams became reality. In a 2017 article published by the USC Alumni Association titled “The Future of Artificial Intelligence is Here -  in Your Pocket and at USC,” Knight says, “I should be able to speak to anyone on the phone, anywhere in the world.” The work he began at Harvard unlocked that possibility, and today computers can translate hundreds of languages. Now, with advancements in artificial intelligence, Knight is imagining the future. He says while computers still struggle with manual manipulation, they are making great strides in creative processes like writing poetry. Knight and a group of USC Ph.D. students were rewarded for their creative efforts when they generated poetry using a machine system. The group won the 2017 Association for Computational Linguistics Conference's Best Demo Award. 

Knight is amazed that what he could only imagine before is happening today. Never one to shy away from a difficult puzzle, he chose this field for a reason. “I picked it because it was hard,” he says. “I thought it would provide a lifetime of enjoyment and exploration.”  

Commercialization and Cracking the Code

Knight earned a doctorate from Carnegie Mellon University and taught computer science for 25 years at the University of Southern California. He served with numerous professional associations, such as the Association for Computational Linguistics and the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence. His work has been published and referenced worldwide, and he has numerous patents. He eventually left academics to join the business side of the “commercialization of language translation.” He served as Chief Scientist for several start-ups, including Didi Global, the Chinese equivalent of Uber. He is currently exploring new possibilities to continue this work. In the meantime, his passion for puzzles continues.

Out of curiosity, Knight and his colleagues used their translation and language processing capabilities to decipher the writings of the Zodiac Killer. Later, when the History Channel filmed a series documenting the serial killer, Knight was a guest expert. He says being part of the series was something he never imagined. Knight also spent considerable effort attempting to crack the code of the famous Voynich manuscript that dates back to the 1400s, and he has developed a passion for true math. For Knight, seeking solutions to these puzzles is exciting; however, he says the most enjoyable aspect is working with his colleagues.

Discovering the Unexpected

Knight’s career trajectory is impressive. From tinkering with one of the first personal computers to hypothesizing ways to connect global conversations, it’s astounding to see such progress. When he thinks about the advice he would offer current Episcopal students who may have the same curiosity and passion, he offers this, “Do whatever you want.” Knight advises that if students “do what they want to do and what (they) enjoy, more often than not, that turns into something unexpected.”

Knight recently returned to Episcopal for his 40-year class reunion. We loved welcoming him back to campus, and we can’t wait to see the unexpected discoveries he will make next.

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