You cannot start an article like that unless it is your essay and you're a first year student.
You're wasting reader's time on meaningless, unproved statements. Perhaps he should demonstrate why that is the case. Or say "X considers Intelligence ..." and then quote him.
Well, he was born in Italy and English is likely not his first language. And his is a name I've heard all my career so, yes, I think he can start an article pretty much any way he pleases and I'll gladly read it.!8-))
But also I agree with Dr. Poggio's first statement in the paper (i.e.,"The problems of Intelligence are, together, the greatest problem in science and technology today."). I have a proof that this is so, however I haven't the time to post it this small textbox and be assured of no typos. Tempusfugit.
But if you know of other problem(s) that you believe are greater then you should indeed reveal them to us.
Perhaps he is writing a 'betoog' (I do not know how to translate this), a piece in which the point is not to inform the user but to convince them of a certain point of view.
You're wasting reader's time on meaningless, unproved statements. Perhaps he should demonstrate why that is the case. Or say "X considers Intelligence ..." and then quote him.