The Birth of AI: Turing, the Dartmouth Conference, and the Quest for Machine Intelligence
In 1956, a small group of scientists coined the term Artificial Intelligence at the Dartmouth Conference, dreaming of machines that could think like humans. This post traces AI’s origins from Alan Turing’s WWII codebreaking triumphs to the audacious—and often overoptimistic—goals of early pioneers like John McCarthy and Marvin Minsky. Discover how the Turing Test shaped AI’s philosophical roots, why 1950s optimism collided with the harsh reality of AI Winters, and what ChatGPT owes to these foundational breakthroughs. Featuring a timeline of milestones, a quiz on early AI, and a glimpse into the debate over machine consciousness, this deep dive bridges WWII-era ingenuity with today’s generative AI revolution.