Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a formal field of study emerged in 1956 at a conference called the Dartmouth Conference, held in Hanover, New Hampshire, USA. At this conference, the term "artificial intelligence" was coined by John McCarthy, who is widely considered one of the founding fathers of AI.
The main purpose of this conference was to bring together the leading scientists and mathematicians of the time to explore the idea that machines could be programmed to simulate human intelligence processes, such as reasoning, learning, and problem-solving.
Alongside John McCarthy, other important pioneers in the early days of AI included Marvin Minsky, Allen Newell, Herbert A. Simon, and Nathaniel Rochester, who contributed to the development of the first AI theories and systems.
AI emerged at a time when advancements in computing and mathematics made it possible for researchers to attempt to replicate some human mental processes, such as decision-making and logical reasoning, through machines and algorithms. These initial efforts led to the first AI applications, though the results were limited.
In summary:
Year of origin: 1956
Key conference: Dartmouth Conference
Coiner of the term and pioneer: John McCarthy and other scientists such as Marvin Minsky, Allen Newell, and Herbert A. Simon.
AI was born as a vision to create machines that could "think" and "learn," and its evolution has been marked by advances in programming, algorithms, and computing power.