7 Early Imaginings of Artificial Intelligence

Humans have conceived versions of intelligent machines for centuries.

The concept of an “intelligent machine”—as a tireless assistant, the ultimate soldier or even a caring companion—has captivated the human imagination for thousands of years. Long before artificial intelligence was a reality, writers from ancient Greece to Cold War-era America spun fictional stories that reflected our collective hopes and fears about AI. Will intelligent machines help humanity reach our greatest potential, or will these brilliant creations turn on their “masters” and be our demise?