Artificial Intelligence (AI) Defined

This week's milestones in the history of technology include the coining of the term "artificial intelligence," the digitization of the Library of Congress, and the first penny paper. The first issue of Scientific American is published by Rufus Porter as a weekly broadsheet subtitled "The Advocate of Industry and Enterprise, and Journal of Mechanical and Other Improvements." In an era of rapid innovation, Scientific American founded the first branch of the U.S. Patent Agency, in 1850, to provide technical help and legal advice to inventors. A Washington, D.C., branch was added in 1859. By 1900 more than 100,000 inventions had been patented thanks to Scientific American.