Charting the course of AI: from myth to reality

16 October 20236 min read First on Medium

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In recent months, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has taken the tech world by storm. Debates about AI potentially taking our jobs are making a comeback. Universities are grappling with a surge of cheating incidents as if life has turned into a video game where cheat codes are the norm. Many are enthusiastic about the possibilities, while others express strong concerns about the looming dangers. However, AI is not a new concept. Scientists, writers, and engineers have been toying with the idea for millenniums.

Who pioneered the concept of Artificial Intelligence? How did it come into existence? What is it exactly?

Let’s embark on a journey into the captivating realm of AI to gain a deeper understanding and alleviate some of the fears surrounding it!

AI Through the Ages: From Legends to Laboratories

As Hephaestus toiled, meticulously shaping bronze with the purest intentions, he unknowingly set in motion the creation of what, in today’s terms, we would recognize as an artificial intelligence: Talos. This remarkable event transpired three millennia ago during an age of epic tales, as the ill-favored son of Hera toiled at the behest of Zeus.

Talos was requested by Zeus to his son, Hephaestus. Shape as a bronze human, he was entrusted with two vital duties: circumnavigating the shores of Crete thrice daily and ensuring the safety of Europa, the beloved companion of Zeus, guarding her against external threats.

While Hephaestus, Hera, and Zeus are all mythical figures, brought to life through the storytelling genius of the ancient Greek poet Homer in his epic “The Iliad,” these stories reveal an intriguing concept that has transcended millennia: the idea of a being creating an artificially intelligent entity.

It is 800 BC, and without any knowledge of the future, an artist going by the name of Homer is building the foundation of a dream shared by humanity: the creation of Artificial Intelligence.

For centuries to come historians would find traces of the imagination of AI.

In the late 500 A.D., Heron of Alexandria would develop prodigious machinery including the first steam engine, and dream of creating smart automata. By the end of the medieval era, an alchemist going by the name of Paracelsus created the recipe to produce the homunculus, an artificial little man. A few years later, in 1580, “The Golem of Prague” was brought to “life” by Rabbi Loew.

Fast-forward to the 19th century, a time of proliferation for stories on Artificial Intelligence, as evidenced in masterpieces like Der Sandmann by E. T. A. Hoffmann, or the even more famous Frankenstein of Mary Shelley. In 1920, the word “Robot” was introduced to the world thanks to a science-fiction play called R.U.R. by the Czech writer Karel Čapek.

Finally, we reach more “modern” times and more modern concepts of AI, when in 1936 Alan Turing, a British mathematician, famous for decoding the Nazi’s encoding system Enigma, publish On Computable Numbers. A publication followed by plenty of other research and ideas like the Game Theory of Neumann and Morgenstern, or the As We May Think by Vannevar Bush, a prescient vision of the future in which computers assist humans in many activities. Eventually led Turing to publish, in 1950, Computing Machinery and Intelligence, introducing to the world the famous Turing Test, a test of a machine’s ability to exhibit intelligent behavior equivalent to, or indistinguishable from, that of a human. Picture this: you’re in a conversation with a computer, but you can’t see it. If, through text-based interactions, you cannot distinguish whether you’re chatting with a human or a machine, then that machine has passed the Turing Test. This milestone raised the bar for AI, pushing it closer to the realm of human-like intelligence.

By the mid-20th century, a spark ignited in the realm of computing — a spark that would eventually blaze into the field of Artificial Intelligence. As the torchbearers of this knowledge, we find ourselves at the crossroads of history, where the past paves the way for the future.

The year 1956 witnessed a historic event — the Dartmouth Workshop. This gathering, orchestrated by visionaries like John McCarthy, Marvin Minsky, Nathaniel Rochester, and Claude Shannon, marked the birth of modern AI. The workshop delved into a realm of possibility, coining the term “Artificial Intelligence” and laying the foundation for an entirely new field of study.

As the ’50s and ’60s rolled in, the world began to witness the creation of early AI programs. One standout is the Logic Theorist, which proved mathematical theorems, a task previously reserved for the brightest minds. Another luminary, the General Problem Solver (GPS), tackled complex problems using a set of rules. And then, there was ELIZA, a program that delved into the mysteries of human language. ELIZA could engage in text-based conversations, often mimicking a Rogerian psychotherapist. It was a glimpse into the future of AI, laying the groundwork for today’s virtual assistants and chatbots.

The journey of AI, like any great quest, faced its share of setbacks. The field experienced cycles of euphoria followed by lulls, affectionately known as “AI winters.” Funding dwindled, and enthusiasm waned, but the ember of AI remained alive. Until, in the 21st century, a resurgence occurred. This revival was driven by breakthroughs in machine learning, neural networks, and the avalanche of big data. It was as if AI, like a phoenix, rose from its ashes, stronger and more capable than ever before.

Now, we find ourselves in the age of contemporary AI, where the dreams of those early pioneers are becoming a reality. Machine learning algorithms, deep neural networks, natural language processing, computer vision, and robotics have come of age. They’re no longer confined to academic journals and research labs; they’re an integral part of our everyday lives.

Consider Siri and Alexa, our virtual assistants — once a far-fetched dream, now an everyday reality. Autonomous vehicles, which were once the stuff of science fiction, are navigating our streets. AI-powered healthcare tools are revolutionizing diagnostics. We’ve even ventured into the realm of generative adversarial networks, which have produced everything from lifelike artworks to eerily realistic deepfakes.

The possibilities of AI are vast and ever-expanding. As we embark on this technological odyssey, let’s remember those early pioneers who, without knowledge of the future, ignited a flame. AI has the potential to transform industries, redefine human-computer interactions, and reshape our world.

In the words of Alan Turing, “We can only see a short distance ahead, but we can see plenty there that needs to be done.” The journey of AI is far from over, and it’s an adventure we’re all part of — ushering in a future that blends the ingenuity of the past with the limitless potential of tomorrow.

What a fascinating history it has been! From the mythical tales of Homer to the remarkable achievements of modern computer scientists and visionary minds, AI, in its diverse forms, has been intertwined with human history for millennia. What’s even more intriguing is that this journey shows no signs of slowing down!

Stay curious and continue this journey with us. Next week, we will delve further into the realm of AI, exploring the various types of AI and their intricate designs. We’ll discuss a spectrum of AI, ranging from sophisticated Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT and Llama to specialized Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI) systems, such as email filtering. There’s so much more to discover, and we’re excited to explore it together!

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This article was strongly inspired by the work of Pamela McCorduck and her wonderful book Machine Who Think.