Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) Definition of AI Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a branch of computer science focused on creating systems capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence. These tasks include reasoning, learning, problem-solving, perception, language understanding, and decision-making. Key Definitions: John McCarthy (1956): "The science and engineering of making intelligent machines." Elaine Rich: "AI is the study of how to make computers do things at which, at the moment, humans are better." History of AI Timeline Overview: 1940s-50s (Foundations): o Alan Turing proposed the concept of a "universal machine" (Turing Machine). o 1950: Turing Test introduced in “Computing Machinery and Intelligence”. 1956 (Birth of AI): o Dartmouth Conference – John McCarthy, Marvin Minsky, Nathaniel Rochester, and Claude Shannon formalized AI as a field. 1960s-70s: o Early AI programs (e.g., ELIZA, SHRDLU...