The Dartmouth workshop

A group of researchers meets for a summer in the United States. The phrase “artificial intelligence”, proposed the previous year, becomes the name of a new scientific field.

Why it is in the museum

Here the basic questions of modern AI take shape: how can thought be described, how can a machine learn, and what does it mean for a machine to hold a convincing conversation?

What supports this exhibit

Primary archival document

The use of the term artificial intelligence and the plan for the 1956 summer research project.

Main source: McCarthy, Minsky, Rochester & Shannon (1955), Dartmouth proposal.

Open the source

What to keep in mind: Primary historical document.

Ask the exhibit

This small guide uses only the information documented on this exhibit page. If your question goes beyond that evidence, it will say so instead of inventing an answer.

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