> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://caseytechschool.gitbook.io/ai-classroom-activities/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://caseytechschool.gitbook.io/ai-classroom-activities/artificial-intelligence/a-brief-history-of-ai.md).

# A Brief History of AI

<div align="center"><img src="https://i.postimg.cc/fT64H2mH/image.png" alt="brief history of AI" width="563"></div>

#### Pre-computer AI concepts

Ideas about developing artificial beings with intelligence date back many centuries. Notable examples include:

* **1200s**: Accounts of mechanical automatons able to sing, play instruments, or perform other lifelike actions.
* **1818**: Mary Shelley's Frankenstein explores the idea of artificially created life.
* **1950s**: As computing advanced, scientists start formally studying how to achieve artificial intelligence.

#### Founding of AI as a discipline

Key events in establishing AI as a scientific discipline include:

* **1950s**: Term "artificial intelligence" coined; Neural network concepts developed.
* **1956**: First academic AI conference held at Dartmouth College.
* **1997**: IBM's Deep Blue defeats world chess champion, demonstrating AI progress.

#### AI winter and resurgence

* **1974-1980s**: Disappointing early progress led to reduced funding and interest, known as the "AI winter".
* **1980s**: Expert systems and knowledge bases created for more specialised AI applications.
* **1990s**: Machine learning techniques helped AI progress beyond rule-based systems.
* **1997**: Deep Blue's chess victory regains interest in general AI goals.&#x20;

#### AI revolution powered by machine learning

Rapid advancement of AI since 2000 is largely driven by machine learning and deep neural networks, enabled by growth in data and computing power.

* **2001**: Machine learning helps Google Search users correct their spelling.

  <div align="center"><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/original_images/gobbledygook.gif" alt="Google search spell correct" width="375"></div>
* **2011**: IBM Watson's Jeopardy! win highlights improvements in natural language processing.
* **2016**: AlphaGo program becomes first to defeat top human professional player in a complex game of Go.
* **2019**: Natural language understanding helps Google to search better.

  <div align="center"><img src="https://i.postimg.cc/HxWFJf1L/image-1.png" alt="language understanding" width="375"></div>
* **2020**: Protein-folding algorithms and large language models take major leaps forward.
* **2020**: OpenAI introduces the GPT-3 model.
* **2022**: OpenAI launches ChatGPT.
* **2023**: Google launches Google BARD.

The pace of AI capabilities continues to accelerate.