In the first half of the 20th century, science fiction familiarized the world with the concept of artificially intelligent robots but it took decades to transform that fiction into some sort of reality by making breakthrough developments in the field of computer technology. In fact the concept of artificial intelligence has been around for centuries in mythologies but it wasn’t until the 1950’s when its true scientific possibility was explored. And now we have reached a stage where all possibilities are being explored to infuse AI technology for maximization of benefits for humans be it in the field of advertising, banking, agriculture or education and medical technology.
Dawn of AI
A generation of scientists, mathematicians and philosophers all had the concept of AI but it wasn’t until one British Polymath, Alan Turing, suggested that if humans use available information, as well as reason, to solve problems and make decisions — then why can’t machines do the same thing?
Computer Revolution and Push
By 1974 computers flourished. They were now faster, more affordable and able to store more information. Early demonstrations such as Allen Newell and Herbert Simon’s General Problem Solver and Joseph Weizenbaum’s ELIZA, which was funded by Research and Development Corporation (RAND), showed promise toward the goals of problem-solving and the interpretations of spoken language in machines, and yet there was still a long way to go before machines could think abstractly, self-recognize and achieve natural language processing.
Rise of Powerful Algorithms
In the 1980s AI research got momentum with an expansion of funds and algorithmic tools. John Hopfield and David Rumelhart popularized “deep learning” techniques which allowed computers to learn using experience.
Start of AI Spring
The big change today is that we are in an unprecedented period of technology innovation across so many different fields that give us the belief that the “AI Spring” has not only arrived but is here to stay. Key developments responsible for this optimism are:
Current Status
In recent times, the AI research continues to grow exponentially. Over the last five years AI research has grown by 12.9% annually worldwide.
While early science fiction writers might have expected dramatic outcomes of the AI technology, but our world is moving steadily and cautiously towards multiple fields where it can prove to be a potential game-changer.