Artificial intelligence (AI) is a branch of computer science dealing with intelligent behavior in machines. It has a long history dating back to 1943, with early milestones like Samuel's checker program in the 1950s. AI aims to create human-like intelligence through techniques like perception, reasoning, and learning. While computers have advantages in speed and memory, they still lack human-level understanding. AI has many applications including expert systems, natural language processing, computer vision, and robotics. Popular programming languages for developing AI include Lisp, Python, Prolog, Java, and C++. The future of AI is uncertain but most believe it will continue advancing to handle more complex problems.