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10 Evolution of AI

Pre-Processing
Pre-Processing
• The Conceptual Era (1943-1952) • The Birth of AI (1952-1956)

• The Early Years (1956-1970) • The Growth Years (1980-1987)
• The Maturation Years (1993-2011) • The Current Scenario (2011-Present)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is defined as the capability of machines to display intelligence

as demonstrated by human beings. The term AI is often used to describe machines
that mimic human cognitive functions, such as learning, understanding, reasoning, and
problem solving.

AI is not a recent phenomenon. The concept of AI has been in development since the
20th century. Let us look at how AI has evolved over the past few decades.

THE CONCEPTUAL ERA (1943-1952)

The concept of Artificial Intelligence took birth during the early 1940s, when scientists
began to pursue the idea of providing intelligence to machines and experimenting with
devices that could learn.

Some milestone moments during this period are:
• 1943: The first work that is now recognised as AI was done by Warren McCulloch

and Walter Pits. They proposed a model of artificial neurons that discusses the
possibility of networks of artificial neurons performing logical functions.

• 1948: In exciting AI milestone came when William Grey
Walter created Elmer and Elsie. These two robots were the
first to work autonomously – independent of a human. They

could navigate their way around obstacles using light and
touch.
Elmer and Elsie
• 1950: Alan Turing, an English mathematician, pioneered Machine
learning. He published his theory, Computing Machinery and
Intelligence in which he proposed a test called the Turing Test, that

can check a machine’s ability to exhibit intelligent behaviour. The
Turing test was the first experiment proposed to measure the
intelligence of machines.
Alan Turing
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