Artificial intelligence (AI) has captured the imagination of everyone around the world for decades. From the early conceptualization of intelligent robots to the recent advancements in machine learning, the history of AI is a testament to human ingenuity and perseverance. In this blog post, let’s look into the intriguing journey of AI, exploring its origins, milestones, and future prospects.
2. The History of Artificial Intelligence
• Beginnings, Obstacles and Prospective Future
• Artificial intelligence (AI) has captured the imagination of everyone around the world for decades. From the
early conceptualization of intelligent robots to the recent advancements in machine learning, the history of AI
is a testament to human ingenuity and perseverance. In this blog post, let’s look into the intriguing journey of
AI, exploring its origins, milestones, and future prospects.
Can Machines Think?
• The question of whether a computer can think is no more interesting than the question of whether a
submarine can swim. – Edsger W. Dijkstra
• In the first half of the 20th century, science fiction captivated audiences with visions of artificially intelligent
robots. These iconic characters sparked imaginations and raised questions about the nature of artificial
intelligence.
• For Example, the “heartless” Tin Man in “The Wizard of Oz”; the humanoid Maria in “Metropolis”; the rebellious
robots of Karel Čapek’s “R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots)”; the havoc-wreaking mechanical man in the
silent film “The Mechanical Man”; and Ambrose Bierce’s chess-playing automaton in “Moxon’s Master”
emerged in this period.
• Alongside these familiar tales, other notable examples laid the foundation for discussions surrounding artificial
intelligence and its implications in society.
3. Alan Turing The Pioneer of AI
So, by 1950s, the concept of artificial intelligence (AI) had become deeply ingrained in the minds
of scientists, mathematicians, and philosophers. Enter, Alan Turing, a British polymath. His
groundbreaking work explored the mathematical feasibility of artificial intelligence. In fact, in his
seminal 1950 paper, “Computing Machinery and Intelligence,” Turing proposed that machines
could replicate human reasoning and problem-solving abilities. Further, his logical framework
challenged the notion that only humans possess the capacity for intelligence, sparking a
revolution in computational thinking.
Obstacles and Challenges
Despite Turing’s visionary ideas, the pursuit of AI faced significant obstacles. However, early
computers lacked the capability to store commands, hindering progress in developing intelligent
systems. Moreover, the exorbitant cost of computing limited access to resources, relegating AI
research to prestigious institutions and tech giants.
The Historical Conference
Finally, the turning point for AI came in 1956 with the Dartmouth Summer Research Project on
Artificial Intelligence (DSRPAI). While spearheaded by John McCarthy and Marvin Minsky, this
historic conference brought together leading minds from diverse fields to explore the potential of
AI. However, the event fell short of its lofty expectations, it laid the foundation for two decades of
groundbreaking research.