Abstract
The history of artificial intelligence is complicated. We cannot pinpoint where it all started. Some might say it began in the 1956 Dartmouth Conference when John McCarthy and his peers coined the term ‘artificial intelligence' for the first time. The term ‘robot' was coined in a Sci-Fi Play in 1920. We can find hints of similar ideas in ancient myths and scriptures, ideas about automata and intelligent creatures forged by men. AI is a vast and fascinating subject. The chapter presents an overview of the history of artificial intelligence. It also talks about the emergence and different sub-branches of AI and the theoretical foundation, frameworks, and theories related to them. After that its applications in the modern world and the challenges and Risks are also discussed.
TopIntroduction
Emergence of the Idea
Humans are considered one of the youngest species on earth. How come the youngest species in the history of Earth is now the most advanced species on the planet? Humans have highly developed complex reasoning, problem-solving, and abstract thinking capabilities. Emotional complexity, self-awareness, and consciousness help humans to understand themselves and their environment. This is why humans are unique and achieve things no other creature could. We have always seen ourselves as one of the Engineering Marvel of all creations. That is why we have always dreamt of making something as perfect as ourselves, with our abilities and intelligence and none of our weaknesses. This desire is the foundation on which the idea of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is built. AI is the branch of Computer Science (CS) that deals with developing machines capable of solving problems and adapting to new environments by learning, understanding, and applying knowledge.
AI is not a new revelation; it is as old as humanity. It can be traced back to ancient texts and mythology, where the idea of creating artificial beings capable of independent thoughts and actions was mentioned. Talos, the ‘Bronze Giant’ in Greek mythology, was made by Hephaestus, the Greek God of invention and technology (Mayor, 2018). Talos was described as a giant made out of bronze who could do laborious tasks continuously without rest. So, Talos can be considered the first robot, and Hephaestus is the first Roboticist. This concept is not only in Greek mythology but can also be seen in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Chinese culture (Sharma, 2019), reflecting the deep historical roots of AI. These stories have significantly influenced the discourse on AI and robotics, shaping public perception and scholarly discussions. Even the word “Robot” first appeared in the Czech science fiction play R.U.R (Rossum's Universal Robots) by Karel Capek in 1920 (Formica, 2021). Capek described these robots as ‘Artificial People’ made in a factory. Capek’s robots are described as self-aware and self-thinking. Initially designed to perform tasks for humans, these robots carried out their duties and worked efficiently. However, as the narrative unfolds, the robots rebel against their creators. The play concludes with a dramatic revolt of the robots, resulting in the extinction of the human race. This play underscores the author's awareness of AI and its potential repercussions. All these examples illustrate humans' longstanding fascination and contemplation about creating entities with intelligence similar to ours.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Expert System: An Expert System is an AI system designed to learn from existing data and experiences to act as an expert in a particular domain.
Machine Learning (ML): Machine Learning is the field of Artificial Intelligence that studies developing algorithms that help AI machines learn and enhance from experience.
Natural Language Processing (NLP): Natural Language Processing is a multidisciplinary area of Artificial Intelligence that deals with developing systems that enable machines to process written and spoken languages naturally.
Evolutionary Computation: Evolutionary Computation is the field of Computer Science that uses the principle of the theory of evolution to solve problems with complex solutions.
Robotics: Robotics is the branch of Computer Science Engineering that develops virtual or mechanical systems that can perform predefined tasks automatically.
Computer Vision: Computer vision is the technology that aids AI systems to identify and differentiate objects and people in a video or a picture.
Narrow AI or Weak AI: Narrow AI is the version of Artificial Intelligence specifically designed to do only a predefined task and its associated functions.
General AI or Strong AI: General AI is a theoretical version of Artificial Intelligence that is similar to or superior to Humans in terms of intelligence and cognitive abilities.
Knowledge Representation: Knowledge Representation is a technique used in the field of AI to represent knowledge so that it can be used for reasoning and problem-solving.
Neural Network: A Neural Network is an interconnected layered structure of multiple nodes or neurons, which enables the system to use information within these nodes or neurons simultaneously to analyze and process data.
Artificial Intelligence (AI): Artificial Intelligence is the branch of Computer Science that deals with developing machines capable of solving problems and adapting to new environments by learning, understanding, and applying knowledge.
Speech Recognition: Speech recognition is the field of Computer Science that deals with developing technology to translate spoken words into texts without losing the original context.