AI is the first and primary bullet point of any conversation.

From cars to smartphones, everything seems to begin and end with AI today.

But how did we get here? Starting from 1950, let's have a look at 11 key AI milestones.

1950 - The Turing Test

The Turing Test, also known as Imitation Game, was devised in 1950 by Alan Turing, the 'father' of the computer, according to many.

The Turing Test determines whether a computer can be distinguished by a human being if you interact with it without actually knowing it's a computer.

1951 - The first neurocomputer

It was called SNARC, Stochastic Neural Analog Reinforcement Calculator, and it was designed in 1951 by AI pioneer Marvin Minsky.

It had 40 synapses, capable of memorising information and using it to determine outcomes.

Believe it or not, it was created specifically as an aid for tests involving lab rats.

1956 - The term Artificial Intelligence is used for the first time

In 1956, at Darthmouth College Hanover in the U.S., computer scientist John McCarthy uses the term 'artifificial intelligence' for the first time.

1960 - The first computer that could learn from its mistakes

In 1960, American psychologist and computer scientist Frank Rosenblatt devised the first computer capable of learning from its mistakes.

1966 - The first chabot

It's crazy to think about it now but the first chatbot, ChatGPT's great-granddad if you like, was created in 1966 by Joseph Weizenbaum, a German-American computer scientist.

It was called Eliza and it was programmed to simulate a conversation with a therapist.

1979 - Computer software beats human at Backgammon for the first time

In 1979, a software designed by German-American computer scientist Hans Berliner beat a human player at Backgammon for the first time.

1997 - Kasparov loses to a computer program

In 1997, IBM's software Deep Blue manages to beat chess champion Garry Kasparov for the first time.

2011 - Introducing Siri

In 2011, Apple introduces Siri, an AI assistant that can answer questions and provide information.

2016 - AI bot writes a movie, including the score

In 2016, an AI bot, which called itself Benjamin, wrote a movie from scratch, and also composed the score.

The movie was titled Sunspring

2017 - AlphaGo can no longer be beaten

In 2017, AlphaGo, a computer program developed by Google's DeepMind becomes unbeatable at Go, a board game.

2022 - ChatGPT

ChatGPT is the first AI chatbot as we know them today.

It was launched in November 2022 and absolutely took the world by storm. ChatGPT definitely started and accelerated today's AI race.

All images from Wikipedia Commons apart from Sunspring (End Cue) and thumbnail (MaximalFocus on Unsplash)