Chapter 1: The Beginning of the Journey

The Problem: When Technology Becomes Necessary

At Minermont, Ethan spots a path out of long queues and strained staff, and Hazel’s AIA turns his curiosity into the hospital’s first AI journey—even as Grace raises doubts.

This chapter is a fast, interactive introduction to AI: where it came from, why it went through "winters", and what the core idea of learning from feedback looks like.

What Will You Learn?

Use the sections below to explore the timeline, key historical moments, and a couple of classic interactive demos.

• 1.1 Light and Shadow in AI
  Travel through an interactive timeline highlighting the most important milestones in AI history. From its beginnings to modern advances, understand how AI has evolved and overcome challenges over the decades.

• 1.4 AI Awards and Recognition
  Discover the major awards and recognitions that have marked AI history, from the most recent Nobel Prizes to specific computing awards. A unique perspective on how society recognizes excellence in artificial intelligence.

• 1.4 Alma's Notes: Deep Blue vs. AlphaGo
  Analyze the fundamental difference between classical AI (brute force) and modern learning—a key distinction that Alma García, the director of AIA, used to illustrate the potential of new technologies.

• 1.4 The Lighthill Report
  Reflect on historical criticisms of AI and how these have shaped its development. Learn that although AI has faced challenges, its evolution has been constant and resilient.

• 1.4 The Cheese and Mouse Game
  Experiment with reinforcement learning: try actions, observe rewards, and see how behavior changes.

• 1.4 MENACE: The Matchbox Learning Machine
  Discover how Donald Michie created one of the first machine learning systems in 1961 using only matchboxes and colored beads. This fascinating example demonstrates that the principles of AI learning can be understood through physical, tangible systems.

• 1.5 ELIZA: The First AI Psychotherapist
  Explore ELIZA, Joseph Weizenbaum's groundbreaking 1966 chatbot that simulated a psychotherapist and demonstrated how users naturally attribute understanding and emotion to machines. Experience the "ELIZA Effect" firsthand by conversing with this pioneering program.