Artificial Intelligence in 1987
In 1987, Ronald Reagan was President, the Cosby Show was the most popular television show, and Top Gun (the original one!) was still filling theaters. And I was a sophomore at Firestone High School in Akron, Ohio.
Last spring, I was taken back to 1987 while sorting through an old box of high school mementos that my mother was anxious for me to shed. Among the knickknacks, I found a paper on artificial intelligence that I had written for English class. AI in 1987? Yep. It existed.
We often think technologies like artificial intelligence are instant breakthroughs. However, most perceived revolutionary technologies have actually been many years in the making — ever evolving and improving until computing power and society are ready to take advantage of them. That’s certainly true with artificial intelligence. It’s been forty years in the making.
So, without further ado, here’s my sophomore year essay — riddled with grammatical errors, fueled by cans of Dr. Pepper and inspired by the melodic tunes of Van Halen’s 5150. Enjoy!
