A Look Back on the Dartmouth Summer Research Project on … – The Dartmouth
At this convention that took place on campus in the summer of 1956, the term artificial intelligence was coined by scientists.
by Kent Friel | 5/19/23 5:10am
For six weeks in the summer of 1956, a group of scientists convened on Dartmouths campus for the Dartmouth Summer Research Project on Artificial Intelligence. It was at this meeting that the term artificial intelligence, was coined. Decades later, artificial intelligence has made significant advancements. While the recent onset of programs like ChatGPT are changing the artificial intelligence landscape once again, The Dartmouth investigates the history of artificial intelligence on campus.
That initial conference in 1956 paved the way for the future of artificial intelligence in academia, according to Cade Metz, author of the book Genius Makers: the Mavericks who Brought AI to Google, Facebook and the World.
It set the goals for this field, Metz said. The way we think about the technology is because of the way it was framed at that conference.
However, the connection between Dartmouth and the birth of AI is not very well-known, according to some students. DALI Lab outreach chair and developer Jason Pak 24 said that he had heard of the conference, but that he didnt think it was widely discussed in the computer science department.
In general, a lot of CS students dont know a lot about the history of AI at Dartmouth, Pak said. When Im taking CS classes, it is not something that Im actively thinking about.
Even though the connection between Dartmouth and the birth of artificial intelligence is not widely known on campus today, the conferences influence on academic research in AI was far-reaching, Metz said. In fact, four of the conference participants built three of the largest and most influential AI labs at other universities across the country, shifting the nexus of AI research away from Dartmouth.
Conference participants John McCarthy and Marvin Minsky would establish AI labs at Stanford and MIT, respectively, while two other participants, Alan Newell and Hebert Simon, built an AI lab at Carnegie Mellon. Taken together, the labs at MIT, Stanford and Carnegie Mellon drove AI research for decades, Metz said.
Although the conference participants were optimistic, in the following decades, they would not achieve many of the achievements they believed would be possible with AI. Some participants in the conference, for example, believed that a computer would be able to beat any human in chess within just a decade.
The goal was to build a machine that could do what the human brain could do, Metz said. Generally speaking, they didnt think [the development of AI] would take that long.
The conference mostly consisted of brainstorming ideas about how AI should work. However, there was very little written record of the conference, according to computer science professor emeritus Thomas Kurtz, in an interview that is part of the Rauner Special Collections archives.
The conference represented all kinds of disciplines coming together, Metz said. At that point, AI was a field at the intersection of computer science and psychology and it had overlaps with other emerging disciplines, such as neuroscience, he added.
Metz said that after the conference, two camps of AI research emerged. One camp believed in what is called neural networks, mathematical systems that learn skills by analyzing data. The idea of neural networks was based on the concept that machines can learn like the human brain, creating new connections and growing over time by responding to real-world input data.
Some of the conference participants would go on to argue that it wasnt possible for machines to learn on their own. Instead, they believed in what is called symbolic AI.
They felt like you had to build AI rule-by-rule, Metz said. You had to define intelligence yourself; you had to rule-by-rule, line-by-line define how intelligence would work.
Notably, conference participant Marvin Minsky would go on to cast doubt on the neural network idea, particularly after the 1969 publication of Perceptrons, co-authored by Minsky and mathematician Seymour Paper, which Metz said led to a decline in neural network research.
Over the decades, Minsky adapted his ideas about neural networks, according to Joseph Rosen, a surgery professor at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. Rosen first met Minsky in 1989 and remained a close friend of his until Minskys death in 2016.
Minskys views on neural networks were complex, Rosen said, but his interest in studying AI was driven by a desire to understand human intelligence and how it worked.
Marvin was most interested in how computers and AI could help us better understand ourselves, Rosen said.
In about 2010, however, the neural network idea was proven to be the way forward, Metz said. Neural networks allow artificial intelligence programs to learn tasks on their own, which has driven a current boom in AI research, he added.
Given the boom in research activity around neural networks, some Dartmouth students feel like there is an opportunity for growth in AI-related courses and research opportunities. According to Pak, currently, the computer science department mostly focuses on research areas other than AI. Of the 64 general computer science courses offered every year, only two are related to AI, according to the computer science department website.
A lot of our interests are shaped by the classes we take, Pak said. There is definitely room for more growth in AI-related courses.
There is a high demand for classes related to AI, according to Pak. Despite being a computer science and music double major, he said he could not get into a course called MUS 14.05: Music and Artificial Intelligence because of the demand.
DALI Lab developer and former development lead Samiha Datta 23 said that she is doing her senior thesis on neural language processing, a subfield of AI and machine learning. Datta said that the conference is pretty well-referenced, but she believes that many students do not know much about the specifics.
She added she thinks the department is aware of and trying to improve the lack of courses taught directly related to AI, and that it is more possible to do AI research at Dartmouth now than it would have been a few years ago, due to the recent onboarding of four new professors who do AI research.
I feel lucky to be doing research on AI at the same place where the term was coined, Datta said.
Read the original:
A Look Back on the Dartmouth Summer Research Project on ... - The Dartmouth
- Why OpenAI and Anthropic Are the Best Bets in Artificial Intelligence - The Information - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- If I Could Load Up on Any Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock, It Would Be This One (Hint: It's Not Nvidia) - Yahoo Finance - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Current Use and Future Directions of Artificial Intelligence in Hematology/Oncology - CancerNetwork - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- 5 Best Artificial Intelligence Stocks to Buy in July - The Motley Fool - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Artificial intelligence (AI) News, Research and Analysis - The Conversation - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Prediction: This Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Could Hit a $2 Trillion Valuation by 2028 - Yahoo Finance - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Prediction: This Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Could Hit a $2 Trillion Valuation by 2028 - The Motley Fool - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Prediction: This Magnificent Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Will Skyrocket to New Highs in July - The Motley Fool - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- DEALMining uses artificial intelligence technology to mine in the cloud, enabling free cloud mining to earn passive income every day - Muddy River... - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- If I Could Load Up on Any Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock, It Would Be This One (Hint: It's Not Nvidia) - The Motley Fool - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- 2 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks That Could Soar in the Second Half of 2025 - Nasdaq - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Army Creating New Artificial Intelligence-Focused Occupational Specialty and Officer Field - Military.com - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Artificial intelligence could be stealing entry-level jobs in the Netherlands - NL Times - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Marginalized Americans are highly skeptical of artificial intelligence, research finds - Phys.org - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Prediction: 2 Incredible Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks That Will Be Worth More Than Nvidia in 3 Years - Yahoo Finance - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Prediction: This Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Could Outpace Nvidia After the Next Chip Upgrade - The Motley Fool - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Goodbye to thousands of traditional jobs - Sam Altman, creator of ChatGPT, confirms which jobs will disappear due to artificial intelligence - El... - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Prediction: 2 Incredible Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks That Will Be Worth More Than Nvidia in 3 Years - The Motley Fool - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- University Hospitals studying use of Artificial Intelligence to improve lung cancer outcomes - Cleveland 19 News - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Sony and AMD confirm: PS6 will use artificial intelligence, but not in the way you imagine - Diario AS - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Artificial Intelligence News for the Week of June 20; Updates from Campfire, Databricks, Precisely & More - solutionsreview.com - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- How the striking of a GOP regulatory ban will affect the global artificial intelligence race - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Presentation on artificial intelligence planned at Hartford Library - WSJM - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- This Tech Giant Now Claims Artificial Intelligence Is Doing Up to 50% of Its Work - The Motley Fool - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Second-order impacts of civil artificial intelligence regulation on defense: Why the national security community must engage - Atlantic Council - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Artificial intelligence fuels Big Tech partnerships with nuclear energy producers - FOX 8 TV - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- UPDATE: Artificial intelligence tools help teachers save time, new survey finds - EdSource - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- These Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks Have Quietly Outperformed the Market All Year - The Motley Fool - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- This Stock Is Shaping the Future of Artificial Intelligence (AI), but Is It a Buy Right Now? - The Motley Fool - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Financial Industry Forum on Artificial Intelligence II: A Collaborative Approach to AI Threats, Opportunities, and Best Practices, Workshop 1 -... - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- This Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Has Quietly Outperformed Nvidia All Year - The Motley Fool - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Tethered caps: KHS optimizes its inspection technology with the help of artificial intelligence - Asia Food Journal - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- These Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks Have Quietly Outperformed the Market All Year - Yahoo Finance - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- AI Isnt Just About Nvidia: 2 Rising Stars In The Artificial Intelligence Race - Barchart.com - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are Transforming the Photonics Industry | EPIC Insights | Jul 2025 - Photonics Spectra - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Love Palantir Technologies? These 3 Artificial Intelligence Stocks Could Have Much More Upside. - The Motley Fool - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Artificial Intelligence Helps Craft the Worlds Best White Wine - Hungary Today - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Prediction: These 2 Artificial Intelligence Stocks Will Be the World's Most Valuable Companies in 5 Years - The Motley Fool - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Texas Takes a Shot at AI Regulation With Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act - Ogletree - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Tolstoys Complaint: Mission Command in the Age of Artificial Intelligence - Modern War Institute - - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Upcoming Utilization Review Restrictions in Light of Emerging Artificial Intelligence - Holland & Knight - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Broadband Breakfast on July 23, 2025 - The Politics of Artificial Intelligence - Broadband Breakfast - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Trust in data is critical to Artificial Intelligence adoption, says TELUS survey. But is that right? - Diginomica - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- 2 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks to Buy Before They Soar to $5 Trillion, According to Select Wall Street Analysts - The Motley Fool - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Artificial intelligence and innovation in the human-tech nexus - Nature - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- 2 Historically Cheap Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks to Buy Hand Over Fist in July and 1 to Avoid - The Motley Fool - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Colossal Biosciences merges Artificial Intelligence with showbiz to revive extinct species - Irish Star - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Is Nvidia the Top Artificial Intelligence Stock to Buy in July? - The Motley Fool - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- This Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Could Be the Best Bargain in the Market Right Now - The Motley Fool - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Cobb County 911 adopts artificial intelligence to relieve stress, reduce turnover - 11Alive.com - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- CHRIS DAUGHTRY: 'I Don't Think You Can Create Human Emotion' With Artificial Intelligence - BLABBERMOUTH.NET - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Mapping the application of artificial intelligence in traditional medicine - World Health Organization (WHO) - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Everyone Is Missing - The Motley Fool - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- International Bar Association study highlights the need for an artificial intelligence-focused legal framework - Canadian Lawyer - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- 2 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks Worth Buying on the Next Dip - Yahoo Finance - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Market to Reach USD 196.91 Billion by 2030, Driven by Diagnostics and Imaging Applications - Barchart.com - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- HII, C3 AI Expand Artificial Intelligence Partnership to Improve Shipbuilding - ExecutiveBiz - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- The pace of development of generative artificial intelligence (AI) is accelerating by causing tecton.. - - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Is Nvidia the Top Artificial Intelligence Stock to Buy in July? - MSN - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- 2 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks That Could Be Poised for a Big Second-Half Comeback - The Motley Fool - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Goodbye to thousands of jobs at Amazon - artificial intelligence is already replacing workers in key roles - Unin Rayo - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture Market to Reach USD 12.8 Billion by 2032, Driven by Climate-Smart Practices and Yield Optimization AI Tools |... - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- 2 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks That Could Be Poised for a Big Second-Half Comeback - Yahoo Finance - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Artificial intelligence and private equity are threatening to transform consulting - Financial News London - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- 2 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks Worth Buying on the Next Dip - The Motley Fool - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- 2 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks Worth Buying on the Next Dip - Nasdaq - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- 5 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks Are Worth Over $2 Trillion. Here Are the 2 Most Likely to Join the Club Next. - The Motley Fool - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- 5 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks Are Worth Over $2 Trillion. Here Are the 2 Most Likely to Join the Club Next. - Yahoo Finance - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Prediction: This Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Could Be the Next Nvidia -- and It's Not What You Think - Yahoo Finance - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- This Artificial Intelligence (AI) Powerhouse Could Be Just Getting Started - The Motley Fool - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Beyond the buzz: What everyday people really think about artificial intelligence - London Daily News - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- If I Could Only Buy 1 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock, It Would Be This Monster "Magnificent Seven" Member Approved by Billionaires... - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- 3 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks That Still Look Like Long-Term Winners - MSN - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Argentina integrates artificial intelligence into education - TV BRICS - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- 5 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks Are Worth Over $2 Trillion. Here Are the 2 Most Likely to Join the Club Next. - The Globe and Mail - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- AI and the Creative Revolution: How Artificial Intelligence Is Changing the Way We Tell Stories - Vocal - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- 5 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks Are Worth Over $2 Trillion. Here Are the 2 Most Likely to Join the Club Next. - Barchart.com - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- 2 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks (Besides Nvidia) to Buy Hand Over Fist for the Long Term - Yahoo Finance - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Artificial Intelligence in Obstetrics and Gynaecology: Advancing Precision and Personalised Care - Cureus - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Orange Jordan sponsors Artificial Intelligence and Future Technologies Day at the Hashemite University - ZAWYA - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]