The Evolution Of Artificial Intelligence: The History Of Artificial Intelligence

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Soldiers sown from dragon teeth, golden robots built by Hephaestus, and three-legged tables that could move under their own power - the Greeks were the first to cross the divide between machine and human. Although the history of Artificial Intelligence (AI) began with these myths and speculations, it is becoming a part of everyday life. How did it evolve so quickly, and what are its implications for the future?
Artificial Intelligence is “the capability of a machine to imitate intelligent human behavior.” Although the term was coined in 1955 by John McCarthy, stories about artificial beings with consciousness can be traced back to Ancient Greece. In one Greek legend, Cadmus, a Phoenician prince, kills a sacred water-dragon after it slays …show more content…

A race of fierce armed men called the Spartoi grow from the teeth. In another legend, a Greek god called Hephaestus builds a giant automaton made of bronze called Talos. Talos circles the island of Europa to protect it from pirates and invaders. Lastly, Hephaestus builds three-legged tables with golden wheels that can move themselves. Each of these Greek myths demonstrate the initial concept of AI. Pamela McCorduck writes that the concept began with “an ancient wish to forge the gods.”
In the 1940s and 1950s scientists began to discuss the possibility of creating an artificial brain. Research sped up after neurologists discovered that the brain is an electrical network of neurons. Then, in 1950, Alan Turing published a paper in which he discussed the possibility of creating machines that think. Since "thinking" is difficult to define, he created the “Turing Test.” The test stated that a machine could “think” if it was able to carry on a teleprinter conversation that was indistinguishable from a human …show more content…

For example, it has a major impact on transportation. Using location data from smartphones, Google Maps can analyze the speed of traffic at any given time. With access to vast amounts of data, Maps can reduce commute times by suggesting the fastest routes to and from work. Commercial flights also rely on AI. The New York Times reports that the average flight of a Boeing plane involves only seven minutes of human-steered flight, which is typically reserved only for takeoff and landing. In the future, AI will have an even more drastic impact on transportation via self-driving cars. These cars will result in up to 90% fewer accidents, more efficient ride sharing to reduce the number of cars on the road by up to 75%, and smart traffic lights that reduce wait times by 40% and overall travel time by

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