Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have exploded into our lives, powering everything from our music playlists to groundbreaking medical diagnoses. Even how our mobile phone cameras take pictures uses AI. But where did this extraordinary revolution begin? And how did we go from clunky, rule-based systems to the sophisticated, data-driven intelligence we see today? The quest to build intelligent machines has captivated thinkers, scientists, mathematicians and many more for centuries, with pioneers like Alan Turing laying crucial theoretical groundwork long before the formal establishment of the field. Now let's dive into the fascinating origin story and explore the ever-expanding contributions of these transformative technologies. The Seeds of Intelligence: Early Days of AI The concept of artificial intelligence has roots in ancient myths and fictional automatons. However, the formal pursuit of AI as a scientific field began in the mid-20th century. Alan Tu...