Publications that have influenced the growth of artificial intelligence are often difficult to obtain. We first collected titles of several thousand publications from many well-known sources and then selected about 2,000 titles considered to be especially influential. We have identified, and in a few cases created, online versions of about half of these "classics in AI." Searchable text of the documents enables additional analysis of trends and influences. Because historians will construct their stories from the primary source material they can find, it follows that AAAI has a responsibility to help preserve the publications that have defined the field. For this reason, the strategic plan for AAAI (AAAI 2008) includes the clause, "Preserve the history of the field, including such tasks as archiving AI materials."

Publications that have influenced the growth of artificial intelligence are often difficult to obtain. We first collected titles of several thousand publications from many well-known sources and then selected about 1850 titles considered to be especially influential. We have identified, and in a few cases created, online versions of about half of these "classics in AI." Searchable text of the documents enables additional analysis of trends and influences.