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Thinking In Numbers
Artificial intelligence requires the ability to learn and make decisions, often based on incomplete information. In 1763, Thomas Bayes developed a framework for reasoning about the probability of events, using math to update the probability of a hypothesis as more information becomes available. Thanks to his work, Bayesian inference would become an important approach in machine learning and marks one of the earliest milestones on our artificial intelligence timeline. -
From numbers to poetry
In 1842, English mathematician Ada Lovelace was helping Charles Babbage publish the first algorithm to be carried out by his Analytical Engine, the first general-purpose mechanical computer. Yet Lovelace saw opportunities beyond the math. She envisioned a computer that could crunch not just numbers, but solve problems of any complexity. -
“Robot” enters vernacular
Czech writer Karel Čapek introduces the word "robot" in his play R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots). The word "robot" comes from the word "robota" (work or slave). -
World War 2 triggers fresh thinking
World War Two brought together scientists from many disciplines. In Britain, mathematician Alan Turing and neurologist Grey Walter were two of the bright minds who tackled the challenges of intelligent machines. They traded ideas in a dining society. Walter built some of the first-ever robots. Turing went on to invent the so-called Turing Test, which set the bar for an intelligent machine: a computer that could fool someone into thinking they were talking to another person. -
A.L.I.C.E. chatbot learns how to speak from the web
Much later in the future, Richard Wallace develops the chatbot A.L.I.C.E (Artificial Linguistic Internet Computer Entity), inspired by Joseph Weizenbaum's ELIZA program, but with the addition of natural language sample data collection on an unprecedented scale, enabled by the advent of the Web. -
The first robot for the home
Rodney Brook's spin-off company, iRobot, created the first commercially successful robot for the home – an autonomous vacuum cleaner called Roomba.
Cleaning the carpet was the Roombas' main purpose. The Roomba was a big achievement. It's few layers of behavior-generating systems were far simpler than Shakey the Robot's algorithms and were more like Grey Walter’s robots. Despite simple sensors and minimal processing power, the device had enough intelligence to efficiently clean a home. -
AI art makes $432,500 at an auction
Can a machine generate the next Picasso masterpiece on its own? This question was thrust into the limelight by artist collective Obvious, a Paris-based trio fascinated by the artistic potential of artificial intelligence. Obvious fed an algorithm 15,000 images of portraits from different time periods. The algorithm generated its own portraits, attempting to create original works that could pass as man-made. -
The future of AI
There are many things AI will be able to do, but for now, I will just list 2. Transportation: Although it could take a decade or more to perfect them, autonomous cars will one day ferry us from place to place. Healthcare: In the comparatively AI-nascent field of healthcare, diseases are more quickly and accurately diagnosed, drug discovery is sped up and streamlined, virtual nursing assistants monitor patients and big data analysis helps to create a more personalized patient experience.
