Origins and Impacts of Artificial Intelligence

Have you ever questioned why AI was created or who was behind it? Well, a group of researchers created AI to mimic human problem-solving skills. In 1956, John McCarthy introduced the term “artificial intelligence” during a research meeting at Dartmouth College, where scientists discussed whether machines could learn and think like humans. This meeting became one of the most important starting points for modern AI.

John McCarthy

"I don't see that human intelligence is something that humans can never understand" said McCarthy, one of the notable founding researchers who alongside many others presented this idea in New Hampshire. 

The main goal of AI was to help computers complete tasks that normally require human thinking, such as solving problems, recognizing patterns, and understanding language. Alan Turing, an early computer scientist, worked to use AI in naval warfare. He said AI “helped shape the idea that navies could eventually imitate parts of human intelligence.” The main goal of AI was to help computers complete tasks that usually require human intelligence such as recognizing speech, solving, and understanding language.

Today in modern times, AI continues to grow and is now used in everyday life through phone assistants apps and online searches. However, it also raises concerns about deepfakes which are fake videos or images made by AI that can spread false information. As technology continues improving, many people believe rules will be needed to make sure AI is used responsibly in the future. According to my original research, people around me have mixed opinions about this. I asked one of my coworkers about their opinion. They said “AI will help people finish work faster, but deepfakes can make it hard to know what is real.”

Another person I asked was one of my classmates and they said, “if the faces keep improving, people might start believing fake videos too easily. And AI is killing our environment. AI data centers have been polluting people’s water supply.” These opinions show that while people see AI is useful. Many are worried about how easily it can share false information. Experts also argue that AI needs clear limits as technology continues growing. Many people believe rules will be needed to make sure AI is used responsibly in the future, while others believe that AI should be canceled out completely. While AI may help society in some ways, its impact will depend on how carefully people choose to control it.