Artificial Intelligence: Robot Technology And The Danger Of Human Extinction!

It was the organizers' belief that "significant advances can be made" in at least one, if not several of these specific areas of concern through a joint effort of a "carefully selected group of scientists". And what's more, this advancement could be quicker than many though possible. While there already had been significant developments in automata – machines that can carry preprogrammed and predetermined functions – it was the conference organizers' belief, especially McCarthy, that there was a mountain of potential for the development of truly "intelligent" machines that could essentially, think for themselves. It was his further belief that through the joint effort of likeminded people willing to "devote time to it…could make real progress". It would turn out, he was correct. In the years that followed the crucial conference in the summer of 1956, advancements in artificial intelligence began to become ever-more rapid.