The 10 Most Important Moments in AI (So Far)
From Isaac Asimov’s first robot stories to AlphaGo, AI has had its ups and downs. But its history is just starting.
By Mark Sullivan
Artificial intelligence is still in its youth. But some very big things have already happened. Some of them captured the attention of the culture, while others produced shockwaves felt mainly within the stuffy confines of academia. These are some of the key moments that propelled AI forward in the most profound ways.
1. Isaac Asimov Writes the Three Laws of Robotics (1942)
Asimov’s story “Runaround” marks the first time the famed science-fiction author listed his “Three Laws of Robotics” in full:
First Law: A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
Second Law: A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
Third Law: A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.
“Runaround” tells the story of Speedy, a robot put in a situation where balancing the third law with…
