Jonathan De Vita is an honours degree student with a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science. As part of his degree, he studied coding and artificial intelligence. This article will take a closer look at artificial intelligence and exponential advancements in the field in recent years that have paved the way for a new generation of intelligent technology.
AI is a specialty within computer science that centres around creating systems capable of replicating human intelligence and problem-solving capabilities. This is achieved by processing vast amounts of data and learning from the past in order to improve and streamline future operations.
The history of artificial intelligence stretches back to antiquity, with myths, rumours and stories of artificial beings endowed with intelligence and even consciousness. In ancient times, inventors created things called “automatons” that were mechanical and moved without human intervention. Originating from an ancient Greek term meaning to “act of one’s own will”, automatons were first referenced in 400 BC, when the philosopher Plato wrote about a mechanical pigeon created by a friend. Centuries later, Leonardo da Vinci created one of the most famous automatons of all time in around 1495 AD.
AI entered the mainstream in the 20th century, the groundwork having being laid in the early 1900s with huge strides achieved in the field from the 1950s onwards. In 1921, Karel Capek, a Czech playwright, released a science fiction play called Rossum’s Universal Robots. In it, Capek induced the idea of artificial people called “robots”, the play being the first known use of the word. In 1929, Professor Makoto Nishimura built Japan’s first robot, which he named “Gakutensoku”. In 1949, Edmund Callis Berkley published Giant Brains, or Machines that Think, a book that compared newer computer models with the human brain.
Alan Turing’s book, Computer Machinery and Intelligence was published in 1950. In it, he proposed a test of machine intelligence which he called “The Imitation Game”. In 1952, the computer scientist Arthur Samuel developed a computer program to play checkers, the world’s first example of a computer program learning to play the game independently. In 1955, John McCarthy staged a workshop at Dartmouth, coining the term “artificial intelligence”.
The 1950s to the 1980s saw rapid growth in the field, with a plethora of AI research. The 1950s and 1960s marked a period of creation, from books and films exploring the concept of robotics and AI to the development of programming languages. The 1970s saw Japan develop the world’s first anthropomorphic robot and an engineering graduate student build the first example of an autonomous vehicle. The 1970s also marked a challenging period in the study of AI, however, the US government showing little interest in funding research in the field. In addition, in the United Kingdom, James Lighthill’s AI report simultaneously caused the British government to withdraw support for AI research.
Composed by Richard Wallace, the ALICE chatbot was released globally in 1996. Heavily inspired by Joseph Weizenbaum’s ELIZA, ALICE incorporated some major tweaks that culminated in exceptional performance. Strengthened by natural language programming (NLP), a program that applies algorithmic pattern-matching rules to help conversations flow more naturally, ALICE has been recognised with numerous accolades and awards over the years, including winning the Loebner Prize three years running.
A game-changing moment in the advancement of AI came in 1997, when DeepBlue beat the chess legend Garry Kasparov in the ultimate battle of man versus machine. This marked the first example of a human being outwitted by artificial intelligence, leaving the world wondering about the future possibilities of AI.
From robotic vacuum cleaners, voice recognition, and Watson’s Q&A computer system to the first AI music composer, ChatGPT, and Sophia, the first robot citizen, AI has advanced at a staggering rate in the 21st century. Experts suggest that this growth will only accelerate in coming years.
