Generative AI For The Rest Of US

1973 and 1988: The First and Second AI winters

During the era of the Cold War, the US government invested in AI research to explore its applications in the military and language translation, notably for Russian documents. However, the outcomes fell short of the expectations within the field, leading to a phase of decreased funding and interest known as the "first AI winter." By the mid-1980s, deficiencies in AI systems, particularly expert systems, became apparent due to their lack of practical knowledge and self-awareness, which was highlighted by John McCarthy. For instance, the MYCIN system, an early expert system designed to identify bacteria causing infections, struggled with handling complex real-world medical scenarios. This resulted in another period of diminished support and enthusiasm for AI research, referred to as the "second AI winter."