A Brief History of AI
The history of AI is marked by research and developments that have shaped the field into what it is today
Related: AI Research | AI Philosophers | Alan Touring
AI has evolved from theoretical concepts to practical applications that impact various sectors today. From early experiments with neural networks to modern advancements in machine learning and natural language processing, AI continues to evolve rapidly, shaping the future of technology and society.
Just as a piece of hardware, the iPhone, gave rise to worldwide acceptance and use of mobile phones, the software app ChatGPT, has largely given rise to the world of AI
Of course, there was AI before ChatGPT; in fact, there was AI before desktop computers. AI started in earnest in an era when computers were mammoth machines powered by vacuum tubes occupying an entire floor. And Turing conceived AI and his famous test a mere decade after WWII.
Early Foundations
Pre-1950s
1930s-1940s: The groundwork for AI was laid with theoretical concepts in computation and logic. Notable figures like Alan Turing introduced foundational ideas about machine intelligence and computation.
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Artificial Intelligence: An Illustrated History: From Medieval Robots to
Neural Networks This book explores the historic origins and current applications of AI in such diverse fields as computing, medicine, popular culture, mythology, and philosophy. Through more than 100 entries, award-winning author Clifford A. Pickover, offers a granular, yet accessible, glimpse into the world of AI, from medieval robots and Boolean algebra to facial recognition, and artificial neural networks. |
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Birth of AI
1950-1956
In 1950 Alan Turing published "Computing Machinery and Intelligence," proposing the Turing Test as a measure of machine intelligence. In 1956 the Dartmouth Conference, organized by John McCarthy, Marvin Minsky, Nathaniel Rochester, and Claude Shannon, officially coined the term "artificial intelligence." This event is often regarded as the birth of AI as a distinct field.
The Growth of AI
1957-1979
- 1958: John McCarthy developed LISP, the first programming language specifically designed for AI research.
- 1961: The first industrial robot, Unimate, began working on an assembly line at General Motors.
- 1965: Edward Feigenbaum and Joshua Lederberg created DENDRAL, the first expert system, which could replicate human decision-making processes.
- 1966: Joseph Weizenbaum developed ELIZA, an early chatbot that could converse in natural language.
- 1972: Hubert Dreyfus's book on the inherent inability of disembodied machines to mimic higher mental functions caused an uproar in the artificial intelligence community.
AI Winters and Renewed Interest
1970s-1990s
1974-1980 & 1987-1994: These periods are known as "AI winters," characterized by reduced funding and interest due to unmet expectations. Despite these setbacks, notable advancements occurred, including IBM's Deep Blue defeating world chess champion Garry Kasparov in 1997.
Modern AI Developments
2000s-Present
- 2012: The introduction of AlexNet marked a breakthrough in deep learning and image recognition, significantly improving performance in computer vision tasks.
- 2016: Google DeepMind's AlphaGo defeated a world champion Go player, showcasing advanced reinforcement learning techniques in computer versus human game playing.
- 2020s: The rise of large language models (LLMs) like OpenAI's GPT series has revolutionized natural language processing, enabling applications from chatbots to content generation.
Links
online.maryville.edu/blog/history-of-ai/
tableau.com/data-insights/ai/history
techtarget.com/searchenterpriseai/tip/The-history-of-artificial-intelligence-Complete-AI-timeline
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_artificial_intelligence
weforum.org/stories/2024/10/history-of-ai-artificial-intelligence/