Definition and history of AI
Definition of Artificial Intelligence
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems.
- These processes include learning (acquiring information and rules for using the information), reasoning (using rules to reach approximate or definitive conclusions), and self-correction.
- Broadly, AI is classified into two types: narrow or weak AI, which is designed and trained for a particular task, and general or strong AI, with generalised human cognitive abilities.
Early History of AI
- Thoughts about artificial beings were present in ancient mythologies, but the science of AI only conceptualized in the last century.
- In 1950, Alan Turing proposed the notion that machines could be made to think, leading to what is now known as the Turing Test.
- John McCarthy is recognised as the father of AI, after he coined the term 'artificial intelligence' in 1956, and then proposed the concept of machine learning.
Evolvement of AI over Time
- The field of AI research was founded at a workshop on the Dartmouth College campus in the summer of 1956, which some consider the birth of AI.
- During the 1960s and 1970s, AI research was focused on symbolic methods, also known as "rule-based" AI.
- The 1980s marked the rise of machine learning with a focus on neural networks.
- In the 1990s and early 21st century, AI began to be used for logistics, data mining, medical diagnosis and other areas.
- The 21st century also marks the era of big data which provided more power to machine learning, producing dramatic advances in speech recognition, image recognition, and many other areas.
Current and Future Scope of AI
- Currently, AI techniques are pervasive and are too numerous to name, but include machine learning, deep learning, neural networks, and natural language processing.
- The future of AI promises a new era of disruption and productivity, where human ingenuity can be enhanced with this powerful technology.